Today Microsoft announced the changes in licensing that will be introduced in the next release of SQL Server, SQL Server 2012. SQL Server 2012 was previously code-named ‘Denali’ and is scheduled for release in the first half of 2012.
These licensing changes include simplifying the number of different Editions by eliminating the following SKU’s:
- Datacenter – These features will now be available in Enterprise Edition
- Workgroup – Standard Edition will replace Workgroup Edition
- Standard for Small Business – Standard Edition will replace this
The licensing changes also see the introduction of a Business Intelligence SKU which is a brand new SKU that is being introduced for the first time in SQL Server 2012. The Business Intelligence SKU provides all of the SQL Server 2012 Standard Edition functionality and also includes Power View (code-named “Crescent”), reporting and analytics, data-quality services and master-data services. A full breakdown of functionality by each SQL Server 2012 Edition can be found here.
With SQL Server 2012, Microsoft will offer three licensing options:
- Core-based Licensing for Enterprise Edition
- Server + CAL (Client Access License) licensing for Business Intelligence Edition
- A Choice of core-based licensing or Server + CAL licensing for Standard Edition
Details of the costs of each these licensing options in $USD can be found in the SQL Server 2012 licensing datasheet.
Detailed answers to many common questions about the SQL Server 2012 licensing can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions about SQL Server 2012 Editions and Licensing
To help you understand these licensing changes and what they mean for your organisation WARDY IT Solutions has designed a licensing review specifically for SQL Server 2012.
