Sql Server Runtime in Azure

Question

Hi all,

This is a query regarding running the SQL Server runtime on a VM in Azure. Our Software provider bundles the SQL Server Runtime install with their software. If we install this software on a VM in Azure will we be covered for SQL licensing or will we have to go with a different option for licensing SQL server in Azure.

Kind Regards

Answer 1

If you provider is bundling SQL with the application then it is likely SQL Server Compact, or SQL Server Express edition, which do not require additional licences (but do have limitations on use). If your provider is bundling a full version of SQL then they are in breach of licencing, but for you to licence that properly you would need to deploy an Azure SQL Server VM which includes a SQL licence.

Answer 2

Hi @Declan Cooke ,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft QnA Platform.
You can leverage the Azure Hybrid Benefit to configure the licensing, which means that you can use your own existing SQL Server license with the VM that is running the SQL server, so you will only get charged for the underlying Azure VM compute, and not for the use of SQL server license . You could also use the pay-as-you-go model which would incur per-second cost of running Azure VM along with the cost of the SQL server license.

Please check the license model and details here : Licensing-model-azure-hybrid-benefit-ahb-change.

You can also refer to this : azure-hybrid-benefit-for-sql-server-on-azure-virtual-machines & pricing-guidance.

I hope this helps.

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