Using the Per-Processor Model to License SQL Server

The per-processor model is one of the two main licensing options for SQL Server Standard, Enterprise, and Workgroup editions as well as the only option available for Web and Datacenter editions. Per-processor is the only practical licensing option when applications that rely on SQL Server are accessible through the Internet and it is not possible for the organization to identify all the users or client access devices ahead of time.

Pictured is a Windows Server-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) system (top left) that uses the SQL Server database engine running on a separate dedicated server to store information and the SQL Server Reporting Services component on another server to generate and distribute organized views of ERP data to internal decision-makers who need them on an ongoing basis. Assuming the Database Server and Reporting Services server are dual-processor computers, each will require two processor licenses for an edition of SQL Server (most likely Standard or Enterprise editions); no SQL Server client-side licenses are required for SQL Server when licensed per-processor. All three servers will also need a server license for an edition of Windows Server. (Windows Server Datacenter edition requires a license for each physical processor socket in the server while the other editions of Windows Server require one license per physical server.)