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SQL Server Enterprise Edition (Server + CAL) + Software Assurance – Licensing Compliance with More Than 20 Cores

Jaroslaw Pelc 0 Reputation points
2025-06-13T12:31:45.9466667+00:00

I would like to confirm if my current SQL Server configuration is compliant with Microsoft licensing rules.

Here are the key points:

·       We have a Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise Edition license.

·       Our company has always Software Assurance.

·       We tested the setup on SQL Server 2019 Enterprise Edition.

·       The physical server has 28 cores (28 sockets, 1 core/socket, 1 logical processor/socket).

 

I did two tests:

1.     With Per Core license key

The SQL Server used all 28 logical processors as shown in the logs:

2025-06-13 09:51:13.880  Server  SQL Server detected 28 sockets with 1 cores per socket and 1 logical processors per socket, 28 total logical processors; using 28 logical processors based on SQL Server licensing.

 

2.     After switching to Server + CAL license key

SQL Server used only 20 logical processors:

2025-06-13 10:50:17.010  Server  SQL Server detected 28 sockets with 1 cores per socket and 1 logical processors per socket, 28 total logical processors; using 20 logical processors based on SQL Server licensing.

 

During the license key change process, I received a warning message.

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My questions:

1.     Is the 20-core limit an enforced technical limitation in the Server + CAL model for SQL Server Enterprise Edition meaning I can use this license on 80 core machine and be still complient? Accepting the fact that SQL instance have performance limitation to 20 cores?

2.     Am I still compliant with Microsoft licensing rules if I install SQL Server on a machine with more than 20 cores but only 20 cores are used?

3.     Does the warning during the key change indicate a licensing violation, or is it only informational?

 

I want to make sure that we remain fully compliant with licensing terms.

SQL Server Database Engine
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  1. Bruce (SqlWork.com) 77,556 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-06-13T20:14:38.0133333+00:00

    you should really contact Microsoft for a definitive answer.

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server/sql-server-2022-pricing

    SQLServer has two license models, core or cal.

    in the core model, all physical cores on the server must be licensed. so you need 28 core licenses. there is an exception if hosted in a VM/Container. then only the cores exposed to VM/Container need to licensed (after the min 4 core, so a 2 core vm still needs a 4 core license ).

    in the CAL model, you license the server, and license every device that connects even via a proxy service. so if a web server uses sqlserver, every device accessing the web server must have a cal license.

    note: I don't believe SQLServer 2019/2022 enterprise supports a cal license, you must drop to standard or use a core license

    so if you only want to license 20 cores, on your 28 core server, you need to use a VM or container to host the SQLServer and limit the VM/Container to 20 cores

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