It was exciting to know that SQL Server 2012 rolled out sometime in the first week of April 2012, and all the hype and hoopla added more to the festival like atmosphere (at least for MSFT team). It was very much evident with all over the web announcements.
All fine, sounds good. Even I was excited to know that SQL Server latest version is “data platform” specific, and so on. With all the new goody things in the kitty I decided to start proposing for latest version of SQL Server to my clients. Now when I sat down for the business across the table with features and benefits (technologically, and monetarily), some of the clients started with a heartburn “No I can’t afford..get me onto MySQL or any other free database systems”. This was the starting and first reaction for businesses who would love to have SQL Server in their organization, but can’t afford. There were few others who were okay, but were very thoughtful and cautioned on its use. And the last group were like, “Alright! I am in for it..get the systems designed, deployed, up and running”.
At the end of the day, I had people who wouldn’t want to shell more money, people were thinking if they should go for SQL Server or not and with break up of benefits on each component (I believe economical use..per feature), and people who were thinking I am ready to have this new beauty in my list of technologies.
All these made me think a bit more on how do I convince folks to adopt SQL Server with its existing model of licensing. This post of mine is to bring few thoughts.
What’s new with SQL Server 2012 Editions, features?
One important change that has come into SQL Server 2012 editions is that there are going to be “only 3” editions, and please note the earlier version editions like Data Center, Workgroup are no more existent. So what do we have now,
1. Enterprise edition – High Availability, High Performance and finally with Business Intelligence features
2. Standard edition – Basic Database, reporting and analytics features
3. Business Intelligence edition – Corporate and scalable reporting (PowerView) and Analytics (Data Quality Services, Master Data Services)
I just picked key points of the new editions and if you want to know more on edition features, you can check here.
Is this enough for me to go back and tell the clients “Here are new and few editions of SQL Server 2012, and you should adopt it for running your business?”. In my opinion, No! What does it matter if it is few or more editions, they wouldn’t still see the money gain on it.
How are these new features tied to new licensing model?
After reading bunch of documents shared by Microsoft on Editions, Licensing and few articles I had few simple conclusions. There is going to be minimum 4 core licenses and licensing all the cores if you are going to license for a Server, and if you have a box with less than 4 cores, then the price of the core licenses is 1/4 cheaper. Interesting!, to me there is a hidden benefit and loss with this type of licensing.
Enterprise Edition can support any number of cores (OS max) and all the cores should be licensed, Standard Edition supports only 16 cores and all these have to be licensed, Business Intelligence Edition supports 16 cores for DB, and OS max for AS and RS. Standard edition and Business Intelligence edition support Server and CAL licensing.
This is lot of understanding, and I still don’t know if this would work to get folks buy in..lot of math? Well no it isn’t that much of calculations.
It’s pretty simple and this type of licensing helps in deciding what Edition you would want, and on what box do you want to deploy. My take is that it will help in streamlining the choosing process of appropriate Edition, Hardware at the end.
What will happen to earlier versions deployment of SQL Server?
I have my opinions, conclusions on this question, but are purely after reading a wonderful blog post by Aaron Bertrand here on CAL licensing in SQL Server 2012 (if inherited), and of course the reference document published by Microsoft. I would read these two if I need to work on finding appropriate licensing cost and SQL Server 2012 editions for upgrade from earlier versions.
What does this all mean at the end for businesses?
I know I will sound favoring Microsoft, but its straight! You decide what edition you want, what hardware you need based on your requirements and pay for what you intend to use. The right edition, right business needs leads to appropriate licensing cost. Its a win-win situation, however you will still hear from customers about the heartburns, cautionary decisions and “yes” to go for it. In no time the ripples will settle down, and the peace shall return.
So leave behind the indecisive thoughts on pricing of new SQL Server licensing and you don’t want to miss the amazing data platform working in your infrastructure serving every need of the organization.
Cheers!