4 ms·

There are no more server CPUs with less than 6 cores though. We could happily manage with just 2 dedicated to SQL server, but you have to license all the cores

There are no more server CPUs with less than 6 cores though. We could happily manage with just 2 dedicated to SQL server, but you have to license all the cores you have. So 3K worth of low end hardware ends up costing you several multiples of that in licensing.

AlphaSite 7y ago
I imagine a VM is a good solution to that.
- GordonS 7y ago
  Windows also let's you set CPU affinity per process - could that be used as a simple workaround?
  - h1d 7y ago
    I laugh when people have to deal with these problems when others are solving real problems using free tools.
dspillett 7y ago
> but you have to license all the cores you have Is that the case? I'm sure I've seen people running on limited cores for licencing reasons rather than having to licence every core. Not sir if that was enforced by the engine refusing to use more, or via seeing processor affinities.
eropple 7y ago
What features in SQL Server Enterprise do you need? More than 24 cores? More than 128GB of RAM? I ask because SQL Server Standard is significantly cheaper when you're using CALs instead of unlimited connections. Ten servers fronting a SQL Server Standard install is $3K, which at a large enterprise is often within a director-level's discretionary equipment budget.
- adamzochowski 7y ago
  User CAL is only cheap if you only deal with small amount of users (internal app). Please note a user is not SQL User account, but represents actual individual person. If you have a webserver (with one db user) but a thousand of visitors, then Microsoft treats it as thousand user CALs . Following MS doc explains this in detail http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/F/8/6F84A9FE-1E5C-44CC-87BB-C236BFCBA4DF/SQLServer2008_LicensingGuide.pdf http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/F/8/6F84A9FE-1E5C-4... , look for keyword 'multiplexing'
  - eropple 7y ago
    Huh, TIL. I literally had a Microsoft sales rep tell me otherwise. Anything to get the sale, I guess.

AlphaSite 7y ago

I imagine a VM is a good solution to that.

GordonS 7y ago
Windows also let's you set CPU affinity per process - could that be used as a simple workaround?
- h1d 7y ago
  I laugh when people have to deal with these problems when others are solving real problems using free tools.

dspillett 7y ago

> but you have to license all the cores you have Is that the case? I'm sure I've seen people running on limited cores for licencing reasons rather than having to licence every core. Not sir if that was enforced by the engine refusing to use more, or via seeing processor affinities.

eropple 7y ago

What features in SQL Server Enterprise do you need? More than 24 cores? More than 128GB of RAM? I ask because SQL Server Standard is significantly cheaper when you're using CALs instead of unlimited connections. Ten servers fronting a SQL Server Standard install is $3K, which at a large enterprise is often within a director-level's discretionary equipment budget.

adamzochowski 7y ago
User CAL is only cheap if you only deal with small amount of users (internal app). Please note a user is not SQL User account, but represents actual individual person. If you have a webserver (with one db user) but a thousand of visitors, then Microsoft treats it as thousand user CALs . Following MS doc explains this in detail http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/F/8/6F84A9FE-1E5C-44CC-87BB-C236BFCBA4DF/SQLServer2008_LicensingGuide.pdf http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/F/8/6F84A9FE-1E5C-4... , look for keyword 'multiplexing'
- eropple 7y ago
  Huh, TIL. I literally had a Microsoft sales rep tell me otherwise. Anything to get the sale, I guess.