SQL Server Licensing Question

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Bas Groeneveld - 29 Sep 2008 01:57 GMT

Hi

I am looking at setting up a fail-over (active-passive) clustered
environment based on SQL Server 2005 and Win2003 Ent 64 bit.

My understanding was always that we need only 1 SQL Server license (for the
active node). However my customer pointed out a paragraph in the Microsoft
SQL Server Pricing and Licensing White Paper
(SQLServer2005Licensingv1.1.doc) which mentions a 30 day period:

When doing failover support, a server is designated as the passive server.
The purpose of the passive server is to absorb the data and information held
in another server that fails. A passive server does not need a license,
provided that the number of processors in the passive server is equal or
less than those of the active server. The passive server can take the duties
of the active server for 30 days. Afterward, it must be licensed
accordingly.

Can someone explain the reason for the 30 day period?

I was always under the impression that the single license covers the
cluster, no matter which node is currently active.

Thanks
Bas

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Bas Groeneveld
Benchmark Design System and Software Engineering
PO Box 165N, Ballarat North, VIC 3350
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Email: basg@benchmarkdesign.com.au

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Eric Isaacs - 29 Sep 2008 08:38 GMT

Maybe it's saying that the passive SQL Server not considered to be
passive if it's in use for more than 30 days. If you're going to use
it for more than 30 days, just transfer your "active" license to the
passive machine. If you're using BOTH SQL Servers you need two
licenses, but if one is really just passive then you only need one.
That's how I see the paragraph, but I'm not a lawyer.

Seriously, you would probably be better off talking to a lawyer (or
Microsoft) about this question than a bunch of programmers. :o)

-Eric Isaacs

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Bas Groeneveld - 30 Sep 2008 03:07 GMT

Thanks

I was hoping that amongst a bunch of programmers someone may have come
across this or there may even be a Microsoft person 'listening' who could
comment.

When installing SQL Server on the two nodes a key needs to be entered on
each server and the same would be used on both.

So the way I see it, whichever node is active is 'using' the key while the
other one is passive. I have never been concerned about which of the nodes
is the active node or worried about ensuring that one of them is not active
for more than 30 days. Thus I don't really understand the intention of this
30 day clause.

Bas

> Maybe it's saying that the passive SQL Server not considered to be
> passive if it's in use for more than 30 days. If you're going to use
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> -Eric Isaacs

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Roy Harvey (SQL Server MVP) - 30 Sep 2008 14:02 GMT

>When installing SQL Server on the two nodes a key needs to be entered on
>each server and the same would be used on both.

I have not set up SQL Server on a cluster, but my understanding is
that it is installed to the cluster, not to a specific node. One
install, one key.

Roy Harvey
Beacon Falls, CT

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