SQL Server 2012 licensing changes; per-core mode now used

Now that SQL Server 2012 is available for production use, there's one thing that also warrants studying: the licensing models for the new product version. Shortly put, the traditional user-based licensing model, the Server + CAL model hasn't changed, but there are big changes in the previously-called per-processor licensing model.

The important news first: per-processor mode has been replaced with a per-core licensing model, similar to what Oracle has used for a long time already. Now with SQL Server 2012, you have to count processor cores, and this also affects how virtualized environments are licensed.

Again, there are good (but long) guides to help you: you can download both the SQL Server 2012 Licensing Guide and the Virtualization Licensing Guide.

These guides and the most recent Core Factor Table can be found from the How to Buy page.