Azure VM Type

Question

Hi Team,

While calculating cost of the Azure VM (through Azure calculator) on which SQL Server Standard 2019 is to be installed, for Type dropdown, what is the difference between OS only and SQL Server? Does this means for calculating cost of an Azure VM for web server, OS only option is to be chosen and for Database server, SQL Server option is to be selected. Please let me know the difference.

Thanks,
Salil

Answer 1

Hi, that is correct.

When selecting a VirtualMachine, you get the Option to select OS only (Windows) - when selecting SQL Server, it is including the pricing for SQL on the VM as well.

If you are using Azure VM for a web server, select OS.

If you select SQL - it will include the SQL license costs (Enterprise, Standard etc) if required.

Answer 2

I am not familiar with the Azure calculator, so I don't know exactly to what you are referring (a screenshot could have helped), but when you create an Azure VM with SQL Server, you have the option of BYOL, Bring Your Own License. That is, if you already have a license that covers the SQL Server installation you will have in the VM, the cost for the VM will not include the SQL Server license.

Answer 3

The OS Vm includes the cost of the windows license and Not the sql lic in case you want to use your own or the free one where you can the Sql Vm includes a sql license as well.

Answer 4

If you are looking at an optimal cost, you could create a single SQL server database without worrying about the VM. There are few differences for DDL and DML queries while using Azure SQL over the regular MS SQL. Check the link

please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful

Answer 5

When using the Azure pricing calculator to estimate the cost of an Azure virtual machine (VM) that will be used for a SQL Server deployment, the "Type" dropdown allows you to select the pricing model that you want to use.

The "OS only" option is used to calculate the cost of an Azure VM that will be used for running an operating system, such as Windows Server or Linux, but does not include the cost of any additional software or services that you may want to run on the VM.

The "SQL Server" option, on the other hand, includes the cost of an Azure VM as well as the cost of a SQL Server license. This option is useful if you want to use the Azure VM as a database server and have the cost of the SQL Server license included in your estimate.

In general, if you are using an Azure VM as a web server, you would choose the "OS only" option. If you are using the Azure VM as a database server and want to include the cost of a SQL Server license in your estimate, you would choose the "SQL Server" option.