November 8, 2013 at 1:49 am
Hi guys/gals
After scouring the dark corners of the interwebs for the last couple of day and can't seem to get a clear definitive answer on my questions about licensing keys.
So I pose these questions to you:
•What roll does a key play in a SQL installation and licensing?
•What happens if you enter the wrong key?
•If you have a per core license for enterprise edition, does SQL server use the key to
determine how many cores SQL server is allowed to use?
•How do you determine how many cores SQL server is allowed to use with a given key?
Now let give this some context, let say you inherit a 2008 R2 Enterprise licensed SQL server at a new company. You are tasked with moving the databases to a VM clone of the current server which sits on a brand spanking new SAN. You ask for the installation key from business and you start getting funny looks.
Is it justified to start worrying or do you just blindly install the enterprise edition from a dusty old MSDN disk we think is the right one?
Thanks for reading
_________________________________________________________________
User "I need more space"
BOFH "Well, why not move to Texas?"
The reason I love IT
November 8, 2013 at 2:04 am
The key is just what edition gets installed. With the possible exception of one of 2012's editions, the key in no way affects the cores you can use or SQL will use. You can buy a single processor license (2008) Enterprise Edition, install on a dual-processor machine and SQL will use both physical processors. You'll get a hell of a fine when you get audited or have to do a license true-up.
Licensing is mostly about the paperwork for what you're supposed to have.
Disclaimer: I am not a licensing specialist. I am not responsible if you get it wrong and get fined. 🙂
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
November 11, 2013 at 2:21 am
Thanks for your response GilaMonster
Just wanted to make sure I cover all the bases.
_________________________________________________________________
User "I need more space"
BOFH "Well, why not move to Texas?"
The reason I love IT
November 11, 2013 at 5:36 am
In addition, if you enter the wrong key it will through message invalid key and you can't proceed for the installation.
HTH
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"Thare are only 10 types of people in the world:
Those who understand binary, and those who don't."
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