Articles on SQL Server
Do not Pay Twice for Bundled SQL Server Licenses
In an Enterprise Agreement true-up, you are supposed to recount the licenses your organisation is using. Identify and exclude bundled SQL Server licenses!
The Neglected Trick to Cut SQL Server License Fees
Consolidating in a hardware cluster is a lesser-known strategy to dramatically reduce SQL Server licensing fees through efficient instance deployment.
SQL Server: FREE licenses for Failover
You probably have SQL Server instances in failover or disaster recovery mode. Do you know that licenses for the “passive” instances are free-of-charge?
SQL Server 2022 licensing: economic impact of the changes
Changes to SQL Server licensing in 2022 — how they may impact your budget. The new per-VM licensing model, Azure Disaster Recovery, and unlimited containers.
SQL Test and Dev: Visual Studio vs Traditional Licenses
Options for using SQL Server in test and development with Visual Studio subscriptions vs commercial licenses. Free alternative — SQL Server Developer Edition.
MS SQL Server Cost Optimisation: Proven Tips
Learn cost-saving tips for optimizing SQL Server licensing on-premises and in the cloud. Improve the bottom line and reduce expenses with our expert guidance.
SQL Server on a Budget: Expert Cost-Saving Tips
Six practical ways to cut SQL Server licensing costs: downgrading from Enterprise to Standard, using Express for small workloads, leveraging passive instance rights, Developer Edition for non-production, and optimising cluster configurations.
Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services? Nope, it's NOT FREE
Do you deploy SQL Server Integration Services separately from the SQL database and think it’s free? STOP. It requires a full SQL licence.
Maximising Revenue with Azure Arc and CSP Hosting
Service providers can combine SPLA, CSP-Hosting, and Azure Arc on the same infrastructure, but only if they separate it correctly. We break down the rules, economics, and common compliance pitfalls.
SQL Server with Azure Arc vs. SPLA
Azure Arc offers hourly pay-as-you-go SQL Server licensing that rivals SPLA on price. We compare the two models side by side: costs, flexibility, compliance rules, and when each option makes more sense for service providers.
Microsoft Server Licenses in VMware and Hyper-V
The 90-day reassignment rule, Software Assurance Licence Mobility, and the Flexible Virtualisation Benefit each apply differently to VMware and Hyper-V. Which rights apply where and how to stay compliant when moving VMs.
Windows Server and SQL Server licensing in containers
Windows Server and SQL Server follow different licensing rules in containers, and Hyper-V isolation changes the calculation again. The specific requirements for each scenario and where most organisations get it wrong.