A detailed description of the license metrics that can be utilized with Microsoft products.

Microsoft products and Software Asset Management license metrics

Windows Server legacy versions

Version Edition Licensing model provided by Microsoft Software Asset Management license metrics to be used on ServiceNow Software Asset Management Licensing rules
2003-2008 R2 Standard Server Server (Per Instance) + add User/Device CALs

Min: NA

Virtualization: 1 VM per license.

A single Standard Edition license server permits you to run one instance of the software in a physical or virtual OSE on the server. You need to assign a Standard Edition license for each running instance.

Datacenter Processor Per Processor + add User/Device CALs

Minimum: 2 processor

Virtualization: Unlimited

When DataCenter Edition is licensed for every physical processor in a server, the server may run both in the physical OSE and in an unlimited number of Windows Server instances in virtual OSEs.

2012-2012R2 Standard Processor Per Processor + add User/Device CALs

Minimum: 2 processors.

Virtualization: 2 VMs for each fully licensed server.

Datacenter Processor Per Processor + add User/Device CALs

Minimum: 2 processors.

Virtualization: Unlimited.

2016-2019 Standard Per Core/CAL Per Core (with CAL) + add User/Device CALs

Minimum: 16 cores per server or 8 Per Processor.

Virtualization: 2 VMs for each fully licensed server.

Datacenter Per Core/CAL Per Core (with CAL) + add User/Device CALs

Minimum: 16 cores per server or 8 Per Processor.

Virtualization: Unlimited.

SQL Server legacy versions

Version Edition Licensing model provided by Microsoft Software Asset Management license metrics to be used on ServiceNow Software Asset Management Licensing rules
2005 Standard
  • Server/CAL
  • Processor
  • For Server/CAL use: Server(Per Instance) for Server licensing and User/Device CAL for CAL licensing.
  • Per Processor

A server licensing rule (for Workgroup, Standard, or Enterprise editions) is required for every operating system environment on which that edition pf SQL Server software or any of its components, such as Analysis Services, is running.

A Processor license is required for each processor installed on each operating system environment running SQL Server or any of its components, such as Analysis Services.

Enterprise
  • Server/CAL
  • Processor
  • For Server/CAL use: Server(Per Instance) for Server licensing and User/Device CAL for CAL licensing.
  • Per Processor
Only for Enterprise edition: If all processors in a machine are licensed, you may run unlimited instances of SQL Server 2002 on an unlimited number of virtual operating environments on the same machine.
2008-2008 R2 Standard
  • Server/CAL
  • Processor
  • For Server/CAL use: Server(Per Instance) for Server licensing and User/Device CAL for CAL licensing.
  • Per Processor
  • Server/CAL: Each server license for these editions permits you to run unlimited instances of the software in one OSE or virtual machine (VM). To run the software in additional OSEs or VMs, you require additional server licenses.
  • Processor license: Number of OSEs on which you can run SQL Server. Only Physical OSEs.
Enterprise
  • Server/CAL
  • Processor
  • Use Server (per Server) for Server Licensing and User/Device CAL for CAL licensing.
  • Per Processor
  • Server/CAL: Each server license for the Enterprise edition permits you to run unlimited instances of the software in up to four OSEs or VMs.
  • Processor license: Number of OSEs on which you can run SQL Server. Up to four OSEs per license.
Datacenter Processor Per Processor Processor license: Number of OSEs on which you can run the SQL Server: Unlimited. The Datacenter edition requires that all the physical processors on the server are licensed and at least two processor licenses are assigned to the server.
2012-2014 Standard
  • Server/CAL
  • Per Core
  • For Server/CAL: Use Server (Per Instance) for server licensing and User/Device CAL for CAL licensing
  • Per Core
Core based licensing:
  1. Count the total number of physical cores in the server. Multiple the number of cores by the appropriate core factor to determine the total number of licenses required for the server.
    Note: The core factor used depends on the processor type deployed and a minimum of four core licenses is required for each physical processor on a physical server.
  2. To license individual VMs using the Per Core model, you must purchase a core license for each v-core (or virtual processor, virtual CPU, virtual thread) allocated to the VM, subject to a four core license minimum per VM.

    For licensing purposes, a v-core maps to a hardware thread. When licensing individual VMs, core factors do not apply.

Enterprise Per Core1 Per Core Same as above.
2016-2019 Standard
  • Server/CAL
  • Per Core
  • For Server/CAL: Server (Per Instance) for server licensing and User/Device CAL for CAL licensing
  • For Core licensing: Per Core
  • Server/CAL: Each server running SQL Server software requires a server license.
  • Per Core: A minimum of four core licenses are required for each physical processor on the server.
Enterprise Per Core1 Per Core Same as above.
Note: If you are already using SQL Server Enterprise edition with (Server/CAL) server licenses with software assurance, continue to use the Server+CAL licensing model. Use license metric as Server (per Server) for Server Licensing and User/Device CAL for CAL licensing. The new purchases for SQL Server Enterprise will be based only on the Per Core licensing model.