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SQL Server licensing under SPLA

  • Updated

Overview

This article explains the licensing requirements for SQL Server under the Microsoft Services Provider License Agreement (SPLA).

Key points

  1. Minimum Core Requirement
    • Under SPLA, there is a minimum requirement of 4 cores for SQL Server licensing. This means that even if a server is configured with fewer than 4 cores, the minimum license requirement still applies.
  2. Licensing Example
    • If a server is assigned only 2 cores, you must still license it with a minimum of 4 cores. This is typically achieved by licensing a 2 x 2-core pack SQL Server license.

Conclusion

To comply with SPLA rules, ensure that all SQL Server instances are licensed with a minimum of 4 cores, regardless of the actual number of cores assigned to the server.

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