SQL Server 2016 Licensing
SQL Server 2016 delivers mission-critical performance across all workloads with in-memory technologies built in, faster insights from any data with familiar tools like Excel, and a platform for hybrid cloud that enables organizations to easily build, deploy, and manage solutions that span on-premises and cloud.
Licensing editions
Compare features in all editions to determine the ideal solution for your virtualization and cloud computing needs.
SQL Server 2016 has two main editions that closely align with the way that customers use SQL Server across workloads. SQL Server 2016 delivers licensing that enables you to more easily take advantage of the benefits of public and private cloud through virtualization and license mobility. Our new model provides simplified licensing, flexibility and innovation, and industry-leading total cost of ownership (TCO).
Simplified licensing
SQL Server 2016 offers two licensing models: one that is based on computing power, and one that is based on users or devices.
Two Main Editions | Licensing Model | |
|---|---|---|
Server + Client | Core-based | |
Enterprise |  | |
Standard | | |
Flexibility and innovation
Cloud-optimized licensing gives you the ability to license a single virtual machine (VM) or to license a server for maximum virtualization, as well as the flexibility to move your VMs from server to server, to hosters, or to the cloud.
Industry-leading TCO
SQL 2016 continues to provide outstanding value at any scale among all major vendors. SQL Server 2016 offers compelling product features and capabilities within two main editions, with no costly add-ons required to run your mission critical and business intelligence applications.
How to buy
Learn about the benefits of the new licensing model and compare pricing and features for each edition.
SQL Server 2016 is available in two main editions, which are aligned with how customers deploy database solutions.
Enterprise Edition
Enterprise Edition delivers enterprise-class mission-critical and tier-1 database. With in-memory technologies built in across workloads, it accelerates performance for transaction processing, data warehousing, and business intelligence. Enterprise Edition is available through core-based licensing.
Standard Edition
SQL Server 2016 Standard is a complete data platform for departments and small organizations. It provides core data management functionality, limited business intelligence for operational reporting and functional data marts, and built-in developer tools. Standard Edition can be licensed in either the core-based licensing model or the Server + CAL licensing model.
Licensing by computing power: Core-based licensing
With the release of SQL Server 2016, the option for licensing for computing power is core-based.
Enterprise and Standard are available under core-based licensing. Cored-based licenses will be sold in two-core packs. The Standard Edition is also available under the Server+ CAL licensing model.
To license a physical server, you must license all of the cores in the server. A minimum of four core licenses are required for each physical processor in the server.
Licensing by users: Server + CAL licensing
Standard Edition is available under the Server + Client Access License (CAL) model.
This licensing model can be used any time the number of users can be readily counted (for example, internal database applications).
To access a licensed SQL Server in the Server + CAL model, each user must have a SQL Server CAL that is the same version or newer (for example, to access a SQL Server 2012 server, a user would need a SQL Server 2012 CAL or a SQL Server 2016 CAL).
Each SQL Server 2016 CAL can provide access to multiple licensed SQL Servers, as well as prior versions of the Enterprise Edition Servers.
Database virtualization: Cloud optimized licensing
With databases that use just a fraction of the compute power of a physical server, you can save by licensing individual database virtual machines (VMs).
To license a VM with core-based licenses, simply pay for the virtual cores allocated within the virtual machine (minimum of four core licenses per VM).
To license a VM under the Server + CAL model (for Standard Edition of SQL Server 2016), you can buy the server license and buy associated SQL Server CALs for each user.
Each licensed VM that is covered with Software Assurance can be moved frequently within your server farm, or to a third-party hoster or cloud services provider.
Servers that are fully licensed with Enterprise Edition core licenses with Software Assurance allow you to deploy an unlimited number of database VMs on the server (or server farm) in a heavily consolidated virtualized deployment to achieve further savings.
Contact your local reseller for more information and for assistance with purchasing.
FAQ
Find answers to questions about features, licensing models, and determining which edition is right for you.
- What is SQL Server Premium Assurance?
SQL Server Premium Assurance is a new offering that will allow customers to extend product support for SQL Server for an additional six years beyond extended support. The offering provides security updates and bulletins rated “critical” and “important” for SQL Server, and is available for SQL Server 2008 and newer versions. SQL Server Premium Assurance requires Software Assurance coverage, and will be available as an add-on SKU starting March 2017.
- What is new in SQL Server 2016?
SQL Server 2016 provides mission-critical performance, with in-memory built in across all workloads with greater scale and availability, all backed by enterprise-grade mission-critical support. The Enterprise Edition offers a complete business intelligence solution that delivers faster insights from any data—big and small—by using familiar tools like Excel in Office and Office 365 with access to business insights on mobile devices. Plus, SQL Server 2016 enables new hybrid cloud solutions, with an easy onramp and a complete and consistent data platform from on-premises to cloud.
- What product editions are offered with SQL Server 2016?
There are two main editions: Enterprise and Standard.
Enterprise for mission-critical applications and data warehousing
Standard for core database capabilities, reporting, and analytics
- What other editions are available with SQL Server 2016?
Enterprise and Standard are the two main editions. The Web Edition is offered only to hosters through the Services Provider License Agreement (SPLA). Developer and Express editions continue to be distributed without changes in licensing or pricing. We also offer the Analytics Platform System appliance which includes SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse software as a component.
- What are the key licensing changes with SQL Server 2016?
There are two notable licensing updates for SQL Server 2016 that are applicable to business intelligence and data warehouse scenarios.
Business Intelligence Edition has been discontinued as a licensing option. Customers who wish to obtain Business Intelligence functionality can do so through the Enterprise Edition of SQL Server 2016.
The previously mentioned SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse software will now be licensed per core on SQL Enterprise Edition.
- What virtualization or cloud-related licensing benefits are available with SQL Server 2016?
SQL Server 2016 provides a variety of virtualization and cloud benefits that help you save money on database licensing and retain flexibility in your database deployments. With SQL Server 2016, you can:
License individual virtual machines (VM), and when licensing per core, buy core licenses only for the virtual cores assigned to the VM.
License for high VM density by buying Enterprise Edition core licenses and Software Assurance for all the physical cores on the server (or server farm) and deploying an unlimited number of VMs on the licensed hardware. Without Software Assurance, VM density is limited to one VM per Enterprise Edition core license.
License for VM mobility across private and public clouds. VM license mobility is a Software Assurance benefit. Without Software Assurance, licenses can be moved from one server to another only once every 90 days.
Fail-over rights are extended to cloud deployments for customers using License Mobility through Software Assurance.
- I have Software Assurance. Do I have to pay more to upgrade to SQL Server 2016?
No. All licenses under Software Assurance may upgrade to SQL Server 2016 at no additional cost.
- Can I purchase new SQL Server Enterprise Edition in the server + CAL model?
No. Enterprise Edition is no longer available in the Server + CAL model for SQL Server 2016.
- Can existing SQL Server Enterprise Edition Server + CAL licenses be upgraded to SQL Server 2016?
Yes. All existing licenses of the Enterprise Edition in the Server + CAL licensing model with Software Assurance can be upgraded to SQL Server 2016, and Software Assurance can be maintained to provide access to future software updates. These licenses will continue under the Server + CAL licensing model.
- How does the 20 Core Server limit work for SQL Server 2016 Enterprise Server?
Existing Enterprise Edition licenses in the Server + CAL licensing model that are upgraded to SQL Server 2016 and beyond are limited to server deployments with 20 or fewer cores. This 20-core limit applies only to SQL Server 2016 Enterprise Edition Server licenses in the Server + CAL model and still requires the appropriate number/versions of SQL Server CALs for access.