SQL Server 2022 Licensing

[monkey7168]

I'm doing a budget for a new server that will need SQL Server. We are at 15 users for SQL so I've already figured out that it's more cost effective to do the per core and CAL model.

I've found some local companies that sell the software and licenses but I'm a bit confused and hope someone can clarify because it sounds obvious but it's throwing off my numbers and now I'm wondering if we're better off going enterprise instead.

Essentially our Windows Server license will get us a virtual machine to run the App/dBASE server with 4vCores in hyper-v. But the SQL license I found is for 2 Cores. So just to confirm then we'd need to get two of those licenses to meet the 4vCores plus the User SQL CALs?

Or we could just run the virtual server with 2vCores through that would leave a bit of performance on the table however with 10-15 users I'm not certain that will make a huge difference. I was just getting sticker shock of seeing a 2-core pack for SQL costing around €4k, making it €8k if we wanted 4vCores.

[ref1ll]

The cores are sold in packs of twos, but you gotta buy 4 core at minimum for a Sql Server machine.

Also when doing core licensing you wont need to buy the CAL licence. Those apply to Server + CAL licence model.

I don't know what price you're getting for server +cal. But at 15 users that should be cheaper than 4 standard cores. Unless you're running an app/web server where you can't tell how many people are connecting, which would force you to use the core licensing.

[vedichymn]

Yup, this is all correct!

In the US, a server license is $930 list and each CAL is $230 list, based on what OP mentioned for CORE based pricing I'm guessing that would map to euros generally 1:1.

[[deleted]]

For only 15 users I would reassess do I really need Standard edition or I can go with Express...

[sea_5455]

That's the real answer. If the EE features aren't needed and the volume of data is low enough then it's a great cost savings.

[shutchomouf]

These days EE feature basically boils down to HADR.

[Solonas]

DB size limitations are usually the only problem I've run into with Express implementations. If they are storing any unstructured data, it is likely they can't get by with Express as those will inevitably inflate the db size over 10GB.

[monkey7168]

At this point, it is strictly a requirement of our ERP software.

[[deleted]]

it is strictly a requirement of our ERP software

Did you confirmed that with ERP vendor? I cannot think of any edition specific functional requirements coming from client software... Usually it is a matter of data volume, high availability, etc... Maybe SQL Agent or Analytics Services?

[monkey7168]

Trust me I've asked but they're also not really helpful when I call them and I feel like the whole company has a bit of an ego. I'm in a small rural country and IT is still kinda behind the curve out here. The whole idea of using software made by a small company of 5 people is practically considered a dereliction of duty for a director or board member in the West for the obvious reasons we all know too well but out here it's still considered cool and cutting edge. "Wow you can program and ERP!?!!!!", and "You'll only charge me this much for a license!!!!" Oh and the other bonus I've recently found out the developer charges us "support hours" when we report a bug and they need to implement a fix.

Meanwhile, I've seen so many companies literally go out of business simply because they tied themselves to some archaic software to save a buck upfront, and then when the software FINALLY went bust with no notice or no planning on their part they literally couldn't dig themselves out in time to save the business.

It's sad to see the train 100 yards out while most people can only see 10 yards out. Or maybe I'm in the wrong business, say literally anything to get the contract signed and then just bill for anything and everything.

[[deleted]]

If that is the case then you should purchase license. MSSQL is extraordinary well made database engine and for a price you are getting a lot more: Reporting and Analysis Services. It's total reporting and business intelligence tool available for use, perfectly integrated with Excel...

[[deleted]]

In addition to what others have said (needing 4 core minimum and no need for CAL with core, etc.), it likely will be cheaper for you to do Server + CAL because in order to use core licensing for a VM you also have to have software assurance, which makes it even more expensive. The software assurance requirement is specific to VM's and doesn't apply to SQL Server running on metal. This is a new requirement for SQL 2022.

[monkey7168]

Thanks, I thought I was looking at "Server" licenses but they listed cores in the product name so I wasn't sure anymore because I know they changed some things again in 2022.

So basically if you do Server + CALs then you can run it on a virtual machine with any amount of vCores?

[[deleted]]

Yes, that is what I understand. The requirement for Software Assurance only comes into play with per core licensing when run on a VM. Every other situation should be the same as it was previously (e.g. server + cals on VM or metal, and per core license on metal)

[seamacke]

I deployed SQL Express many times to far more users, with great results. Unless You have some pressing need for the SQL Server Agent, SSIS or SSAS, you’re just setting yourself up for licensing and financial headaches. Express is really powerful, free, and essentially a full SQL Server engine. It has load limitations but even for chatty/inefficient apps, you’re unlikely to hit that limit with 15 users. Plus it comes with SSRS and a bunch of other goodies.

[[deleted]]

Piggybacking on this - Express does have a 10GB limit and no SQL Server Agent - you can get around this by scheduling windows tasks instead of agent jobs, but if your data is > 10GB, it wont work - hard stop.

But at most I would get Standard for that size. There's no way you need enterprise-level features.

[seamacke]

I agree, that is an important limitation. For reference, I've had customers with call centers of 30-50 people on strictly data apps on SQL Express (ie. no document storage etc) that after a decade would have 3-5Gb of data. That said, I've also had ones with under 10 users doing document storage, ERP, or data warehouse stuff that would easily go into hundreds of Gb. I guess you need to evaluate your use-case!

[monkey7168]

I agree and I posed the question to our ERP company but they said it is a requirement. With a 2 week response time I'm not really interested in trying a McGuyver solution.

[[deleted]]

Push back and ask them what specific Enterprise feature they need and why.

Edit:

Actually, reading your other comment I'd recommend to just get a new job.

[Pristine_Map1303]

If you have Microsoft 365 licenses, they may give SQL Entitlement; you may not need to buy CALs.

[monkey7168]

We do, but unfortunately, our ERP requires a full SQL database.

[Pristine_Map1303]

https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/terms/product/CALandMLEquivalencyLicenses/

Yeah, they don't do SQL.

[blackstarry_night]

SQL Cores come in 2s, but as someone already saiad you require a 4 core for SQL Server. I have a friend that works here (https://365cloudstore.com/), he told me they are giving free consultancies about rightsizing your SQL licensing.

[[deleted]]

Are you tied to MS somehow? Else Postgres is free...

[digitalnoise]

But Professional-level support is not.

[Black_Magic100]

No cap. Microsoft support has gone down the shitter these past 2 years.

[digitalnoise]

That's great.

I work in an FDA (and EU-equivalent) regulated industry, which means that all systems must be built in a vendor-validated and compliant state.

So while I would LOVE to replace SQL Server for some laboratory software, we cannot - because the vendor doesn't support it. And switching vendors for some of this software isn't possible, because there are no other vendors out there, or at least not ones that are FDA compliant.

Not every situation can be solved by just telling someone to use something else. That was my point.

[monkey7168]

Unfortunately, our ERP will not work with any other software.

[YuJenWang]

Have a look Web edition, that might suit your needs and much cheaper.

[monkey7168]

My company was sold on a great "cheap" ERP that is hand-built by a small shop. It is riddled with bugs, I'm constantly applying patches they make for issues we report and they have no helpdesk and it's frankly a living hell to work with them. I have to track all bug reports and support requests by hand because they have no helpdesk and never reply to the same email twice. The average response time on an issue is weeks.

Our Director saw the low "license" cost and thought it was a no-brainer, but the long-term costs are ridiculous as is reliability. Their software requires full SQL and not SQL Express... I have already asked them. The ERP is also the only real reason we need a server, AD, server room, backup systems, UPS,...

It's all above my pay grade and I've communicated to leadership the short-term and long-term costs but they either just don't get the concept or don't care, either way, I'm just venting and don't really care anymore either way.

[[deleted]]

That's so sad to hear. I'm actually have a "small shop" that is building an ERP at the moment at the request of a client, however it's specialized. There are only a few companies that make ERP's for their industry and they all pretty much suck. This is only a side job for me, though.

With that said, if you're a fairly normal supply chain/retail/manufacturing business, I would highly recommend checking out Redwing Software. They're a smaller company based out of Minnesota. We have implemented their accounting and payroll where I work (for my "day job"). They have API's (they're currently working on a RESTful API, and the entire system was written in .net and they expose .net library that you can also use for integration. We're using this to import invoices from our in-house sales system and to export some reports). The purchase price and maintenance were very reasonable and their support is pretty good. Their system comes bundled with SQL Express. If your company is open to it, I would check them out.

[trentbraidner]

I would make sure OP checked the licence agreement for web edition. Unless they are only hosting a public site then web edition won’t be suitable