SQL Server

Note: SQL Server subscription licenses purchased through CSP are subject to different terms as set forth in the Server Subscriptions for Azure.

Product Conditions:

Provides additional information related to acquiring the Product, such as prerequisites for purchase, prior versions, and the applicable Product Pool.

SQL Server Enterprise (Server/CAL)

Existing SQL Server Enterprise (Server/CAL) customers may renew their SA on Server Licenses acquired under that License Model, however new Server Licenses for SQL Server Enterprise (Server/CAL) are no longer available. Existing SA customers upgrading to a new version should refer to the November 2019 Product Terms for SQL Server Enterprise (Server/CAL) License Terms.

SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse

SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse is a deployment option for SQL Server Enterprise Core customers. Customers are eligible to use only the software builds made available during the term of their SA coverage.

Identifies the License Terms for each Software Product, including the Universal License Terms, the applicable License Model, and any Product-Specific License Terms. References in Customer’s volume licensing agreement to “Use Rights” refer to the terms included in the Use Rights section of each Software Product Entry.

Automatic Updates to Previous Versions of SQL Server

If the SQL Server software is installed on Servers or devices running any supported editions of SQL Server prior to SQL Server 2012 (or components of any of them) this software will automatically update and replace certain files or features within those editions with files from this software. This feature cannot be switched off. Removal of these files may cause errors in the software and the original files may not be recoverable. By installing this software on a Server or device that is running such editions you consent to these updates in all such editions and copies of SQL Server (including components of any of them) running on that Server or device.

SQL Server Platform Selection

SQL Server Licenses are platform agnostic and permit deployment and use on Windows or Linux platforms.

Running Instances for Standard Edition

For each Server License, software may be run in only one Physical OSE or Virtual OSE at a time, but Customer may use any number of Running Instances of the server software in that OSE.

Distributed Availability Groups Use Limitations for Standard Edition

Customer may use Distributed Availability Groups on SQL Server Standard Edition to establish database replication with Azure resources only.

Fail-Over Servers for Parallel Data Warehouse (PDW)

The PDW Appliance is a single unit made up of two or more compute nodes (Licensed Servers) all controlled by a single PDW control virtual machine (Virtual OSE). Technology is built in to the appliance which allows the software to fail-over to another compute node on the appliance. Customer does not need additional Licenses for the software running in fail-over OSEs as executed by the PDW Appliance technology.

Use of SQL Server with Container Technology

For purposes of licensing use of SQL Server software running within a container on a container runtime such as docker, cri-o, or containerd, (i) a container is considered to be a Virtual OSE, and (ii) the Physical or Virtual Cores available to that container are considered to be Hardware Threads. Customer’s use is subject to the Per Core License Model or Server/CAL License Model and any other License Terms relevant to the SQL Server Licenses Customer has appropriately assigned to the Licensed Server in connection with that use.

Data Collection

The Data Protection Addendum applies to the Product, except (1) the DPA's statement of compliance with ISO 27001, ISO 27002, and ISO 27018 does not apply, and (2) use of all data processed by Internet-based Features is governed by the Microsoft Privacy Statement (aka.ms/privacy) and not the DPA, unless other terms accompany such Internet-based Features.

Additional Software

Per Core

For Products under the Per Core License Model, Customer must choose either Licensing by Physical Core on a Server or Licensing by Individual Virtual OSE. The terms for each are set forth below.

Server Licenses (per core) – Licensing by Physical Core on a Server

1. Customer may use the server software on a Licensed Server, provided it acquires sufficient Server Licenses as described below.
2. The number of Licenses required equals the number of Physical Cores on the Licensed Server subject to a minimum of four Licenses per Physical Processor.
3. For Enterprise edition, Customer may use any number of Running Instances of the server software on the Licensed Server in a number of Physical OSEs and/or Virtual OSEs equal to the number of licenses assigned to it.
4. For each additional Enterprise edition License that Customer assigns beyond the number of Licenses required under paragraph 2 above, it may use the server software in one additional OSE on the Licensed Server.
5. For other editions, Customer may use any number of Running Instances of the server software only in the Physical OSE on the Licensed Server.

Server Licenses (per core) – Licensing by Individual Virtual OSE

Available for subscription licenses or licenses with active Software Assurance only:

1. Customer may use any number of Running Instances of the server software in any Virtual OSE on the Licensed Server, provided it acquires sufficient Licenses as described below.
2. The number of Licenses required equals the number of Virtual Cores in the Virtual OSE, subject to a minimum of four Licenses per Virtual OSE.
3. If any Virtual Core is at any time mapped to more than one Hardware Thread, Customer needs a License for each Hardware Thread to which it is mapped.
4. Customer may reassign any of its Licenses to any of its Licensed Servers located within the same Server Farm as often as needed. Customer may also reassign these Licenses from one Server Farm to another, but not on a short-term basis (i.e., not within 90 days of the last assignment).

Server/CAL

Server Licenses (per Instance)

For Products under the Server/CAL License Model, customer may use one Running Instance of server software in either a Physical OSE or Virtual OSE on a Licensed Server for each License it acquires.

Subscription licenses or licenses with active Software Assurance only. All CALs used to access the software under this model must also be acquired as subscription licenses or have active Software Assurance: When licensing by Virtual OSE, Customer may reassign any of its Licenses to any of its Licensed Servers located within the same Server Farm as often as needed. Customer may also reassign these Licenses from one Server Farm to another, but not on a short-term basis (i.e., not within 90 days of the last assignment).

Access Licenses

1. Except as described here and noted in the Product-Specific License Terms, all server software access requires CALs or CAL Equivalent Licenses.
2. CALs are not required for access by another Licensed Server.

Client access licenses may be assigned by user or device, as appropriate. A user CAL allows access to corresponding version of the server software or earlier versions of the server software from any device by one user. A device CAL allows access to corresponding versions of the server software or earlier versions of the server software from one device by any user. CALs allow access to server software running on Customer’s Licensed Servers only.

Server Software Access

Please note these resources are provided for reference purposes only and are not considered to be part of the Product Terms. To see more versions and languages click here.