New SQL Server SA Benefits

Check out this October announcement - It could save You Thousands!

Microsoft recently announced a new SQL Server SA benefit that is well worth reviewing – it could either release some currently consumed cores or save you buying more for any clustered environments you have now or are planning.

Starting Nov 1st, every Software Assurance customer of SQL Server will be able to use three enhanced benefits for any SQL Server release that is still supported by Microsoft:

• Failover servers for high availability – Allows customers to install and run passive SQL Server instances in a separate operating system environment (OSE) or server for high availability on-premises in anticipation of a failover event. Today, Software Assurance customers have one free passive instance for either high availability or DR
• Failover servers for disaster recovery NEW – Allows customers to install and run passive SQL Server instances in a separate OSE or server on-premises for disaster recovery in anticipation of a failover event
• Failover servers for disaster recovery in Azure NEW – Allows customers to install and run passive SQL Server instances in a separate OSE or server for disaster recovery in Azure in anticipation of a failover event

So considering a typical architecture per diagram below the number of SQL Server core licenses required to operate this topology would be only 12 cores as opposed to 24 cores in the past:

​Now the FAQ’s in the announcement included a specific question as to the versions that were covered and was answered in the affirmative by a Microsoft representative:

Q1. Is this applicable to old SQL Server versions like 2014 & 2016?
Answer for Q1: Yes. The benefit applies to all supported releases of SQL Server.

Which raises the question – why do we once again see a potential conflict in the Product Terms which appear to qualify the benefit to SQL Server 2019 only:

4.2 SQL Server 2019 – Fail-over Rights
For each of its Primary Workloads, Customer is entitled to:

• One Fail-over OSE for any purpose, including high availability, on any Server dedicated to Customer’s use (subject to their new  Outsourcing Software Management clause); and
• Two Fail-over OSEs specifically for disaster recovery purposes:

1. one on any Server dedicated to Customer’s use (subject to their new Outsourcing Software Management clause) and
2. one on Microsoft Azure servers 

We shall (again) seek clarification from Microsoft. In the meantime, check out more comprehensive information and examples in the accompanying Licensing Guide.