SQL Server licensing- how many licenses do I need????

Question

Hello!

I am working on a project that requires a new SQL Server with Enterprise Edition. We are looking to set up a new AWS dedicated host (r5d.16xlarge), which is listed as 64vCPU (which is 32 vCPU with HT). We have determined that we only need the processing power of 24 vCPU +HT, and AWS allows us to provision the server as such when creating it by using their CPU options.

So the big question- how many EE licenses do we need to purchase for BYOL?

We know that we need to purchase licenses with SA to bring our own licenses, but we have gotten conflicting answers from various parties- one person tells us that we would need to purchase 64 licenses to cover the entire dedicated instance, even though we are only spinning it up with 24 vCPU with HT turned on. Another party tells us we only need 24 licenses. Looking through the documentation provided for licensing an OSE, I can see that you license each v-core, and that a virtual core is defined as a virtual representation of one or more hardware threads, and " The use of hyper-threading technology does not affect the number of core licenses required when running SQL Server software in a physical OSE."

So how does this play out? We want to make sure that we purchase the right number of licenses, but the documentation is as clear as mud.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

Answer

There is difference in licensing when underlying OSE is physical and virtual. For physical OSE you only need to license physical cores and "not" the virtual cores. BUT for virtual OSE with HT enabled, which you will have in AWS, all the "virtual" cores needs to be licensed including that created by hyper threading. Thus in your case you would have to purchase 64 core licenses not 32 (32vCPU with HT enabled).

EDIT:
Quoting from SQL Server 2017 license Guide which Olaf Helper has shared

To license a VM or container with core licenses, purchase a core license for each virtual core (virtual thread) allocated to the VM or the number of cores configured for access by the container (with a minimum of 4 core licenses per VM or container).

PS: I must am not licensing expert please confirm this with MS licensing expert.

Answer

Where do I find a licensing expert? I tried calling the number provided by OlafHelper-2800 and got rerouted 4 times until I was put in contact with Office 365 support in another country...... Is there a direct line for presales?

Answer

For detailed information about the license issue, 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. For international customers, please use the https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing/worldwide to find contact information in your locations.

The licensing guide will answer your questions. Please see:
https://download.microsoft.com/download/e/2/9/e29a9331-965d-4faa-bd2e-7c1db7cd8348/SQL_Server_2019_Licensing_guide.pdf

Answer

Hi @Bill Schultz ,

> Is there a direct line for presales?

Please go to Volume Licensing Service Center support. Choose region/language and choose to call or have web. Microsoft licensing specialist there will help you more effectively.

Best regards,
Cathy

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SQL Server licensing- how many licenses do I need????

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