Microsoft® SQL Server® 2014 Standard edition from Hewlett Packard Enterprise

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SQL Server 2014 delivers mission critical performance across all workloads with in-memory built-in, faster insights from any data with familiar tools, and a platform for hybrid cloud enabling organizations to easily build, deploy, and manage solutions that span on-premises and cloud.

SQL Server 2014 licensing models

Did you know that Microsoft® SQL Server® 2014 offers different licensing models that align with how customers typically build and use specific workloads? Today we will explore these licensing models: SQL Server + Client Access License (CAL) licensing and Per Core licensing.

SQL Server + CAL licensing allows you to license users and devices for low-cost access to incremental SQL Server deployments. Each server that runs SQL Server software requires a license and this license allows you to run any number of SQL Server instances in a single Operating System Environment (OSE)—either physical or virtual. For this licensing model, each user and/or device that accesses the licensed SQL Server requires a SQL Server CAL that is the same version or newer. Each SQL Server CAL allows access to multiple licensed SQL Server versions and editions including: Business Intelligence edition, Standard edition, and legacy Enterprise edition servers.

Per Core licensing can give you a more precise measure of computing power, and a more consistent licensing metric, regardless of whether solutions are deployed on physical servers on premises or in a virtual or cloud environment. This licensing model is appropriate when customers are unable to count users and devices, have Internet and Extranet workloads or systems that integrate with external facing workloads.

Remember, when licensing a physical server, all cores on the server must be licensed. To determine the number of licenses that are needed, simply multiply the total number of physical cores by the appropriate core factor found in the core factor table—a minimum of four core licenses are required for each physical processor on the server.

Unlike the Server + CAL licensing model, the Per Core model allows access for an unlimited number of users or devices to connect from either inside or outside of an organization’s firewall without the need for CALs to access the SQL Server software.  

HPE OEM SQL Server 2014 offerings

Now that you know the main licensing models for SQL Server 2014 Standard, let’s take a look at how you can purchase them! Hewlett Packard Enterprise offers HPE OEM licenses for SQL Server 2014 worldwide in several languages. These can be purchased either directly from HPE or from your local HPE authorized reseller.

• Direct from HPE factory: available at the time of your ProLiant server + Windows Server Operating System (OS) purchase as a non-preinstalled option (drop in the box) for two different licensing models: (1) Server + CAL and (2) Per Core licensing.
• From HPE Resellers and Partners: HPE OEM SQL Server Standard edition is available from HPE authorized resellers bundled with Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard or Datacenter editions. This is called the HPE OEM Windows Server OS/SQL Server Reseller Option Kit—or HPE ROK for short—and is available for Server + CAL licensing only.

Be on the lookout for our next blog, “HPE OEM SQL Server 2014 Standard edition new part numbers available!” to learn about the new part numbers offered by HPE and keep up to date on new announcements from HPE and Microsoft by joining Coffee Coaching community on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.