cluster node licensing

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cluster node licensing

JaybeeSQL

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September 22, 2015 at 3:48 am

#304927

Hi all,

Does the passive node in a 2-node SQL cluster need a paid licence?

Thanks,

JB

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Eirikur Eiriksson SSC Guru Points: 182631 More actions · Answer 1

Eirikur Eiriksson

SSC Guru

Points: 182631

September 22, 2015 at 8:12 pm

#1828634

JaybeeSQL (9/22/2015)

Hi all,

Does the passive node in a 2-node SQL cluster need a paid licence?

Thanks,

JB

Have a look at this blog post: Microsoft SQL Server Licensing For Dummies.[/url]

😎

JaybeeSQL Hall of Fame Points: 3496 More actions · Answer 2

Eirikur Eiriksson (9/22/2015)

JaybeeSQL (9/22/2015)

Hi all,

Does the passive node in a 2-node SQL cluster need a paid licence?

Thanks,

JB

Have a look at this blog post: Microsoft SQL Server Licensing For Dummies.[/url]

😎

Already seen it. It's 4 years out of date, has an incorrectly-titled link at the bottom, but the title of the article itself is quite appropriate 🙂

However, I need a source that is a tad more authoritive, thanks.

Eirikur Eiriksson SSC Guru Points: 182631 More actions · Answer 3

JaybeeSQL (9/23/2015)

Eirikur Eiriksson (9/22/2015)

JaybeeSQL (9/22/2015)

Hi all,

Does the passive node in a 2-node SQL cluster need a paid licence?

Thanks,

JB

Have a look at this blog post: Microsoft SQL Server Licensing For Dummies.[/url]

😎

Already seen it. It's 4 years out of date, has an incorrectly-titled link at the bottom, but the title of the article itself is quite appropriate 🙂

However, I need a source that is a tad more authoritive, thanks.

Then you might want to start with telling us which Version and Edition you have or intend to use

😎

JaybeeSQL Hall of Fame Points: 3496 More actions · Answer 4

Eirikur Eiriksson (9/23/2015)

JaybeeSQL (9/23/2015)

Eirikur Eiriksson (9/22/2015)

JaybeeSQL (9/22/2015)

Hi all,

Does the passive node in a 2-node SQL cluster need a paid licence?

Thanks,

JB

Have a look at this blog post: Microsoft SQL Server Licensing For Dummies.[/url]

😎

Already seen it. It's 4 years out of date, has an incorrectly-titled link at the bottom, but the title of the article itself is quite appropriate 🙂

However, I need a source that is a tad more authoritive, thanks.

Then you might want to start with telling us which Version and Edition you have or intend to use

😎

Standard Edition. The placement of this post should give you a clue as to Version. 🙂

Eirikur Eiriksson SSC Guru Points: 182631 More actions · Answer 5

JaybeeSQL (9/23/2015)

Eirikur Eiriksson (9/23/2015)

JaybeeSQL (9/23/2015)

Eirikur Eiriksson (9/22/2015)

JaybeeSQL (9/22/2015)

Hi all,

Does the passive node in a 2-node SQL cluster need a paid licence?

Thanks,

JB

Have a look at this blog post: Microsoft SQL Server Licensing For Dummies.[/url]

😎

Already seen it. It's 4 years out of date, has an incorrectly-titled link at the bottom, but the title of the article itself is quite appropriate 🙂

However, I need a source that is a tad more authoritive, thanks.

Then you might want to start with telling us which Version and Edition you have or intend to use

😎

Standard Edition. The placement of this post should give you a clue as to Version. 🙂

And you do have the license for the 2008 which means 2008 licensing terms apply.

😎

JaybeeSQL Hall of Fame Points: 3496 More actions · Answer 6

JaybeeSQL

Hall of Fame

Points: 3496

September 23, 2015 at 7:57 am

#1828793

Thanks for your input, wishing you many long years ahead with SQL Server 🙂

Anyone have an actual resolution for my query?

Eirikur Eiriksson SSC Guru Points: 182631 More actions · Answer 7

JaybeeSQL (9/23/2015)

Thanks for your input, wishing you many long years ahead with SQL Server 🙂

Anyone have an actual resolution for my query?

He he

Standard Edition (2008) allows for two nodes in a cluster and license is required for the active node(s).

😎

Maybe next time you ask a question you consider providing the full information upfront.

SQLRNNR SSC Guru Points: 281324 More actions · Answer 8

The licensing guide provided is still applicable. Note it was written after the release of SQL Server 2008 Standard edition.

If you need something more official, use this and check the second link.

Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
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ScottPletcher SSC Guru Points: 100262 More actions · Answer 9

Not if: (1) you have software assurance on the active node and (2) it is truly passive.

From MS's licensing docs [emphasis added by me]:

"

Beginning with SQL Server 2014, each active server licensed with SA coverage allows the installation of a single passive server used for fail-over support. The passive secondary server used for failover support does not need to be separately licensed for SQL Server as long as it is truly passive. If it is serving data, such as reports to clients running active SQL Server workloads, or performing any “work” such as additional backups

from secondary servers, then it must be licensed for SQL Server. The active server license (s) must be covered with SA,

and allow for one passive secondary SQL Server, with up to the same amount of compute as the licensed active server, only.

"

SQL DBA,SQL Server MVP(07, 08, 09) "Money can't buy you happiness." Maybe so, but it can make your unhappiness a LOT more comfortable!

JaybeeSQL Hall of Fame Points: 3496 More actions · Answer 10

I'd like to thank the previous two respondents, you are SQLRNNR and Scott, for your helpful and effective posts, you gentlemen have saved me a lot of time. Good to know we have a couple of serious professionals on here at SSC!!

Let me quote the relevant MS license terms, so other professionals won't waste time...

"The server being used for failover does not need to be licensed for SQL Server as long as it is truly "passive" (not serving SQL Server data to clients or running active SQL Server workloads). If it is serving SQL Server data to clients (such as reports) or running active SQL Server workloads, then it must be licensed for SQL Server."

So - there we have it, the answer, is ONE license. 😎

Brandie Tarvin SSC Guru Points: 172918 More actions · Answer 11

JaybeeSQL (9/25/2015)

I'd like to thank the previous two respondents, you are SQLRNNR and Scott, for your helpful and effective posts, you gentlemen have saved me a lot of time. Good to know we have a couple of serious professionals on here at SSC!!

It is unfortunate that you feel the passive-aggressive need to shoot down a long-time (and very helpful) poster to this site for giving you a completely relevant link for your issue. If you wanted a Microsoft-specific link, you should have asked for the Microsoft link in the first post, instead of insulting a top-tier SQL professional who has helped a lot of people. In doing so, you not only insulted him, but a good number of the professionals who work hard to translate Microsoft's technobabble into useful articles on this site, and the man who runs the site (and accepts those articles).

If "authoritative" articles are so important to you, I suggest you scan MSDN more regularly.

Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.

TomThomson SSC Guru Points: 104773 More actions · Answer 12

JaybeeSQL (9/23/2015)

Eirikur Eiriksson (9/23/2015)

JaybeeSQL (9/23/2015)

Eirikur Eiriksson (9/22/2015)

JaybeeSQL (9/22/2015)

Hi all,

Does the passive node in a 2-node SQL cluster need a paid licence?

Thanks,

JB

Have a look at this blog post: Microsoft SQL Server Licensing For Dummies.[/url]

😎

Already seen it. It's 4 years out of date, has an incorrectly-titled link at the bottom, but the title of the article itself is quite appropriate 🙂

However, I need a source that is a tad more authoritive, thanks.

Then you might want to start with telling us which Version and Edition you have or intend to use

😎

Standard Edition. The placement of this post should give you a clue as to Version. 🙂

Your "Already seen it" post suggested plainly that SQL Server 2008 licensing information would be out of date and inappropriate for you, so why do you imagine that anyone should, after that, expect that the placement of your post in this SQL Server 2008 Forum gives any indication at all of what version you are concerned with?

Tom

EdVassie SSC Guru Points: 60312 More actions · Answer 13

If you purchased your license after the release of SQL 2014 then you are bound by the restrictions that were new to SQL 2014 even if you are 'downgrading' the license to an older version. In particular, the right to have a passive node without any additional licensing only applies if you have SA. Also, most virtualisation scenarios require that you have SA, this came in with SQL 2012.

If you purchased your license prior to the release of SQL 2014 then you will bound by the restrictions that applied at that time.

If you are not certain of what is covered by your license then the people who use this site can give an opinion, but Microsoft is not obliged to take any notice of these opinions. If you want certainty then the only way to get this is to talk to your license reseller.

Also, depending on the terms of your existing agreement with Microsoft, the cost of adding a new SQL license to your estate may be different to what you expect - the only way to be certain is to talk to your license reseller.

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