cluster

Hello ,
I have couple of questions on clustering as well as on hardware.
1) Is the license for SQL Server 2005 Enterprise edition ( Production) on
active/active and active/passive is same?
2) Is the license for sql server 2005 is socket based or processor based, is
there any differnce between them.
3) Do we have any figures for SQL Server 2005 performance on single socket
as well as dual socket servers ?
4) If we have a active/active cluster on single socket on quad core
processor , what will be the license as well as performance when compared to
the active/active on dual socket on quad processor?
Any input is appreciated?
Comments Inline
"IT" <IT@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:87B5B6CB-413D-4A12-A4D3-59CDAC0C569A@.microsoft.com...
> Hello ,
> I have couple of questions on clustering as well as on hardware.
> 1) Is the license for SQL Server 2005 Enterprise edition ( Production) on
> active/active and active/passive is same?
Sort of. There is a single-instance or N+1 exception to normal licensing
requirements. If you have a node that is always a standby system, Then it
doesn't have to be licensed for SQL. Two nodes, one instance, one license.
Four nodes, three instances, three licenses.
Also, on two-node clusters, you might look into Standard Edition for
clustering. It's lots cheaper and it does support two-node clusters.

> 2) Is the license for sql server 2005 is socket based or processor based,
> is
> there any differnce between them.
Socket-based. This makes dual and quad core systems very price competitive
from a licensing standpoint.

> 3) Do we have any figures for SQL Server 2005 performance on single socket
> as well as dual socket servers ?
I generally don't trust benchmarks all that much. With SQL, the nature of
the load can vary so much between systems that finding a matching benchmark
is difficult if not impossible. Dual and quad socket systems are commodity
priced so I wouldn't go with a single-socket system except for the very
lowest application. Certainly not for a cluster.

> 4) If we have a active/active cluster on single socket on quad core
> processor , what will be the license as well as performance when compared
> to
> the active/active on dual socket on quad processor?
>
Assuming per-socket licensing, you would need one socket license for the
first and four licenses for the second. CAL licensing (assuming the usage
meets the requirements) would be one server license and N CALS for the first
or two server licenses and N CALs for the second. N being the number of
client users or devices.

> Any input is appreciated?
Geoff N. Hiten
Senior Database Administrator
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
|||Thanks that was helpful....
Is there any KB or white paper describing the same for some documentation...
"Geoff N. Hiten" wrote:

> Comments Inline
> "IT" <IT@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:87B5B6CB-413D-4A12-A4D3-59CDAC0C569A@.microsoft.com...
> Sort of. There is a single-instance or N+1 exception to normal licensing
> requirements. If you have a node that is always a standby system, Then it
> doesn't have to be licensed for SQL. Two nodes, one instance, one license.
> Four nodes, three instances, three licenses.
> Also, on two-node clusters, you might look into Standard Edition for
> clustering. It's lots cheaper and it does support two-node clusters.
> Socket-based. This makes dual and quad core systems very price competitive
> from a licensing standpoint.
> I generally don't trust benchmarks all that much. With SQL, the nature of
> the load can vary so much between systems that finding a matching benchmark
> is difficult if not impossible. Dual and quad socket systems are commodity
> priced so I wouldn't go with a single-socket system except for the very
> lowest application. Certainly not for a cluster.
> Assuming per-socket licensing, you would need one socket license for the
> first and four licenses for the second. CAL licensing (assuming the usage
> meets the requirements) would be one server license and N CALS for the first
> or two server licenses and N CALs for the second. N being the number of
> client users or devices.
>
> --
> Geoff N. Hiten
> Senior Database Administrator
> Microsoft SQL Server MVP
>
>
|||Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Licensing
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/howtobuy/default.mspx#EXE
The links to the white paper and FAQ are very useful
Geoff N. Hiten
Senior Database Administrator
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
"IT" <IT@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8848E76E-646D-4AA9-B7FD-7FCCA6D5DAFE@.microsoft.com...[vbcol=seagreen]
> Thanks that was helpful....
> Is there any KB or white paper describing the same for some
> documentation...
> "Geoff N. Hiten" wrote: