Enterprise -> Standard

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Enterprise -> Standard

_nzrdb6

Mr or Mrs. 500

Points: 580
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September 3, 2012 at 2:53 am

#280682

Hi guys, I have deployed SQL 2008 Enterprise Edition and its now being used successfully by a handful of databases. Problem is my boss now wants to replace it with standard edition to save money. would i have to delete the enterprise edition instance and create the new standard one or can i simply remove the enterprise only features like TDE I'm using and "call" it a standard edition instance for licencing purposes. we have a bucket of enterprise and standard licences.
thanks

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Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 1

If you want it to be standard edition for licensing purposes, it has to be standard edition. Enterprise has a whole lot of features that you can't chose not to use (they're built in optimisations, eg enhanced read ahead)

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

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derek.colley SSCrazy Eights Points: 8040 More actions · Answer 2

Ask yourself why you are using the Enterprise edition version - is it for features like backup compression, TDE etc? What might break if you downgrade? Cross reference against a list of Enterprise-only features. If your boss wants to save money, you need to make it clear there's going to be consequences i.e. the complexity of reinstalling the instance, migrating DBs, the risk of problems (I've never done an Enterprise->Standard downgrade and don't ever want to!), backout plans required, etc. You might find, for example, that your backups that occupy, let's say, 50GB compressed now take up 300GB uncompressed, and you run out of disk room.

If I were in your shoes I would give your boss a high-five for his wonderful money-saving idea.

With a chair.

In the face.*

*(Note to pedants and pacifists: this is clearly a joke 🙂 )

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