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Licensing SQL server at a host level (2016 -2019)

Algon 1 Reputation point
2024-05-10T06:40:46.1366667+00:00

Hello

We have a 10 host on premise VMWare cluster, mostly running Windows VMs. We are looking to license all our SQL virtual machines (versions 2016 through to 2019) using the core based model and would like to license at the physical host level. My understanding is this can achieved using what MS call Maximum Virtualization.

My questions are:

Is it possible to license at a host level for SQL Standard Edition or can this only be covered with SQL Enterprise edition license?

i.e. I license all the cores on my hosts with SQL Server Std core License's allowing me to run an unlimited number of virtual machines that are running only SQL Std Edition on those hosts?

Can I license at a host level for only half the hosts in my Vmware cluster and then use affinity rules to restrict the SQL VMs to these hosts?

Do I need Software assurance in place to allow me to migrate these virtual machines between hosts?

Is there anything else I need software assurance for other than upgrade rights?

Thanks in advance

SQL Server
SQL Server
A family of Microsoft relational database management and analysis systems for e-commerce, line-of-business, and data warehousing solutions.
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  1. Erland Sommarskog 102.2K Reputation points
    2024-05-10T21:48:07.89+00:00

    If you have not looked at the Microsoft Licensing Guide, you should do that.

    If you still have questions, look at the answers this thread for where to get more help: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/1664731/c-mo-recupero-la-informaci-n-de-licencia-olp-micro.

    This is a technical forum, and you cannot get authoritative answers about legal matters, i.e. licensing here.

    But, yes, Software Assurance, is likely to be a good idea.

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  2. ZoeHui-MSFT 33,386 Reputation points
    2024-05-11T01:39:33.0033333+00:00

    Hi @Algon,

    For question regarding pricing / licensing please contact a Microsoft sales partner or licensing expert.

    Please call 1-800-426-9400, Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. (Pacific Time) to speak directly to a Microsoft licensing specialist. Or you can go to Volume Licensing Service Center support. Please choose region/language and choose to call or have web. People there will help you more effectively.

    Regards，

    Zoe Hui

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.

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