July 27, 2010 at 3:46 am
We are planning to build a 2 server cluster with EMC AutoStart/SQL Server module cluster software. One server will be the active node and the other one the passive. A SQL Server 2008 Standard instance is installed on each server. This instance will run on the active server to give the users access to our database. The disk partition containing the database is mirrored by EMC AutoStart from the active to passive server. The database of the passive server is not accessible. So we have two identical server each one with a SQL Server 2008 Standard instance installed. But normally only the instance on the active server is running.
We want to use the server/device CAL model.
The SQL server licensing overview states in the case of a failover clustering that just on SQL Server license is needed. But all scenarios always describe a cluster build with SQL Server 2008 itself. But in our case we are using an additional cluster software (EMC AutoStart) to manage the cluster.
Our questions are now:
Is this the same as using the Microsoft clustering software or do we have two purchase two licenses SQLServer because we use an additional cluster software?
The cluster software provides an automatic failover. The former passive node will become active. There is something like a 30 day limit in the SQL Server licensing for a active/passive cluster when using just one license. What will happen after 30 days when the former passive node is still active after a switchover?
As mentioned above we want to use the Server Device CAL model. A Device CAL grants access to multiple SQL Server instances. We estimate to need 15 Device CAL. In the case we would have to purchase licenses for each node, could we buy one SQLServer licence with 10 CAL and one license with 5 CAL? Summarized we would get 15 CAL.
One last question regarding the User CAL model. If we would build a workgroup with the cluster and the 15 clients. Each client would have the same local user and access the cluster. We always logon with SQLServerAuthentication using the same login. How many User CAL would we need?
Thank you for your answers
Hubert
July 27, 2010 at 9:39 am
You have to call Microsoft to get official support. If this is for your company, you want a legal answer.
However I think that any passive use (clustering, log shipping, etc.) does not need to be licensed, as long as it is not being used.
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