July 18, 2011 at 7:06 am
Hi,
We've a SQL 2000 server running in per seat mode and I have a question about using it to serve stuff over the Internet. I've read up on SQL licensing and am sure that we need a per processor license. I've not found much info about changing things in SQL however.
The SQL Install is sitting on a virtual Server 2003 R2 machine, and two virtual processors are allocated to it on the ESX 4.0 host.
In EM, SQL server 2000 properties shows that it's using both of these two processors.
My questions:-
Can I just untick one of the boxes and everything will continue to work fine, presumably slower?
When I've unticked one of the boxes do I then only need a single-processor license?
Thanks for your help,
Steve
July 18, 2011 at 7:16 am
steveblakemore (7/18/2011)
Can I just untick one of the boxes and everything will continue to work fine, presumably slower?
You can, but...
When I've unticked one of the boxes do I then only need a single-processor license?
No. To get away with 1 processor licence, SQL must only see one processor, not simply be affinitised to one. The second processor has to be disabled in windows too. Essentially, you'd need to modify the virtual machine so that it has only one processor (note, not one core, one physical socket)
That said, check with microsoft licensing or your vendor. They're the only ones who can say for sure.
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
July 19, 2011 at 1:20 am
Hi,
Thanks for the clarification and advice. Here is a Microsoft article about SQL Licensing:
It's very clear about licensing virtual machines. Because the host in my case has two physical processors with a total of 8 cores, and I'm only using two of these 8 in my SQL VM, it's classed as one physical processor, so I only need one processor license. Yay!
Steve
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