Microsoft Server Based Products

SQL Server Processor Licensing Model – an increasingly valuable option



Under this structure, a customer acquires a separate Processor license for each processor that is located in the server running the SQL Server software. This licensing model is most appropriate for applications that are accessible through the Internet and for internal applications with a high client-to-server ratio. The really interesting part is that the customer is licensed per processor with no regards to how many cores the processor contains. Since the evolution in microchips continues at a high speed it is not long before we will see processors in production with 6, 8, 10 or maybe even 12 cores. If a customer purchases the required number of SQL processor licenses, with additional Software Assurance, future increases in hardware performance and scalability will be automatically fully realized by the customer without purchasing new SQL Server licenses! This makes for an outstanding ROI.

Windows Server Datacenter Edition – the way to go for Datacenters



Not only does Windows Server Datacenter Edition offer all the scalability, features and performance needed in the largest of Datacenters but also a preferable way to license Windows Server in larger virtual scenarios. Windows Server Datacenter Edition is licensed per processor and includes the right to run an unlimited amount of virtual machines. Obviously a Windows Server Processor license requires an substantial initial investment. When running virtual servers the sweet-spot flr Datacenter Edition is reached at 8 VM’s/CPU. Customers choosing the licensing option, probably running with more than 8 VM’s/CPU, can enjoy the benefits of running an unlimited number of virtual machines as well as not having to report the number of individual Windows Server instances. More information available at;

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/howtobuy/licensing/calculator.mspx   

Windows Virtualization, Hyper-V, coming soon

Microsoft has just released RC1 of the upcoming Hyper-V technology, an update to Windows Server 2008. This new technology will enable cost-efficient virtualization with a previously unseen level of performance and scalability on the Windows platform. Since no enterprise virtualization solution is any better than the associated management platform Microsoft has gone to great lengths utilizing previous investments in the System Center family, making sure customers will receive an integrated management experience all the way from hardware up to the application layer. The planned release of Hyper-V is within 180 days of the release of Windows Server 2008.

More on Hyper-V http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/virtualization-consolidation.aspx

More on Microsoft System Center
http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/en/us/default.aspx

More on Dynamic IT http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/jun07/06-04DynamicITVideos.mspx