Updated: May 31, 2023 (November 18, 2019)

SQL Server Big Data Cluster Licensing

Andrew analyzes and writes about Microsoft's data management, business intelligence, and machine learning solutions, as well as aspects of licensing... more

SQL Server 2019 Big Data Clusters provide data lake management on a Per-Core model.
Software Assurance (SA) or subscription licenses are required to license an installation.
Some SQL Server instances receive free licenses as an SA benefit.

Big Data Clusters is a new SQL Server deployment method that allows SQL Server to create and manage a data lake. Data lakes are large databases that store and analyze unstructured data, such as social media posts, equipment logs, and e-mails.

Understanding the Components

The accompanying illustration shows the main components of a Big Data Cluster, which are also the basis for licensing requirements.

Master Node (top) is a traditional SQL Server instance with normal online transaction processing capabilities and databases that is also the head node of the Big Data Cluster, which involves coordinating all activities within the cluster. It receives incoming queries (top), parses the query and evaluates the resources needed to compete the request, instructs the appropriate Big Data Nodes involved in processing the query, and then gathers, consolidates, and returns the results to the calling application.

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