What’s in Enterprise only? (Up to 8 CPU sockets)

Each edition of SQL Server supports a specified number of processor sockets multiplied by the number of logical CPUs in each socket. The Enterprise Edition of SQL Server supports up to 8 CPU sockets, while the Standard only supports up to 4.

All this means is that, in a machine equipped with over 4 CPU sockets, by simply upgrading a running instance of SQL Server Standard edition to Enterprise, you’re increasing its computing capacity up to twice as much the original value.

This post is part of the a series I decided to call “Understanding the value of the Enterprise Edition, one feature at a time” which I started in September 2011 and will grow on a weekly basis, having a new post incorporated to the family every Friday.