Can you transfer SQL Server Standard Edition CALS to the Enterprise?

[SteveMe]

Please advise. thanks

 

[SQLBill]

This is for SQL Server 2005, but I'm sure it applies for all versions.

SQL Server 2005 Licensing
SQL Server is available under three licensing options:

• Processor Licensing Model. Under this model, a license is required for each physical or virtual processor accessed by an operating system environment running SQL Server. This license does not require any device or user client access licenses (CALs).

• Server plus Device CALs. Under this model, a server license is required for each operating system environment running an instance of SQL Server, as well as a CAL for each client device that accesses a system running SQL Server.

• Server plus User CALs. Under this model, a server license is required for each operating system environment running an instance of SQL Server, as well as a CAL for each user that accesses a system running SQL Server.


Note: In SQL Server 2005, CALs are offered in two types:

• SQL CAL. Any SQL CAL (32 bit, 64 bit, and IA64) can be used with any licensed server running SQL Server regardless of the platform (32 bit, 64 bit, and IA64),

• Workgroup CAL. Workgroup CAL can be used only with a licensed SQL Server Workgroup Edition server.


In SQL Server 2005, Server licenses are offered per platform (32 bit, 64 bit, and IA64).

While customers should choose the appropriate platform that matches their current hardware (in order to obtain the appropriate media), SQL Server licenses are not platform specific. In other words, if a customer currently has a 32 bit Server, and plans to upgrade the hardware to 64 bit in the future, the customer can purchase a 32 bit SKU today, and later switch to 64 bit without the purchase of an additional license.

Based on that, it appears you license the OPERATING SYSTEM not the version of SQL Server. Nowhere that I can find does it say this license for SQL Server Enterprise and this for Standard.

-SQLBill


Posting advice: FAQ481-4875

 

[SQLBill]

I take it back....there is a difference - COST. While the cost of CAL for Standard and Enterprise is the same ($162 per CAL) it's almost $10,000 more for the server license.

I'm looking at the white paper and FAQ to see if it explains it better.

-SQLBill

Posting advice: FAQ481-4875

 

[mrdenny]

Beleive it or not the SQL Server licensing is fairly easy to understand compaired to some of the other products.

When you purchase a CAL you are purchasing for a user to use to connect to your SQL Servers. At my current company we use CALs for our internal servers. We have ~1150 users so we purchased 1200 CALs. One for each employee. That gives each of the ~1150 users the license to connect to any of our 30 SQL Servers which are licensed under the CAL license. CALs can be used to connect to both Standard and Enterprise Edition. The difference is the Workgroup CALs which are less expense and can only be used to connect to Workgroup edition.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com