How to Find SQL Server 2008 R2 License Key

As an IT professional, managing licenses for your organization's software can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to complex systems like Microsoft's SQL Server. In this article, we'll explore the intricacies of licensing SQL Server 2008 R2 and clarify some common misconceptions about the requirement for Software Assurance (SA) in virtual machine (VM) environments.

One key point to consider is that SA is required for license mobility, which allows you to move a VM between hosts more frequently than every 90 days. However, this may not be necessary if your organization has licensed its VM clients by core and meets the minimum requirement of four cores per server.

For instance, if your organization uses Enterprise Edition and licenses each VM client by core, with a minimum of four cores per server, you may not require SA for license mobility. This is because licensing by core ensures that you have sufficient licenses to cover all the CPU resources in your VM farm.

On the other hand, if you are assigning licenses to guests (VMs) and need to move them between hosts frequently, SA may be required to enable license mobility. In this case, your software assurance representative should be able to guide you through the process of obtaining the necessary licenses.

To clarify any confusion, it's essential to consult Microsoft's licensing guidelines, particularly page 9 of the SQL Server 2008 R2 Licensing Guide, which explains how to license individual machines and provides more information on SA requirements for VM environments.

In conclusion, while the requirement for SA in VM environments can be complex, understanding the concept of license mobility and the minimum core requirements for Enterprise Edition licensing can help simplify the process. By consulting Microsoft's official guidelines and seeking guidance from your software assurance representative, you should be able to determine whether SA is necessary for your organization's SQL Server 2008 R2 licenses.

How to find sql server 2008 r2 license key