Why Pay More For Less
In a previous post “Buying a Vehicle vs. Buying a Database Platform” we compared how buying a database platform with some vendors can be a lot like buying a new vehicle. How some vendors charge for features and functionality that you hope would just come included with buying their Enterprise level solution (and paying an Enterprise level price).
Microsoft SQL Server was clearly ahead of the competition when it came down to the features and functionality included when you buy the Enterprise level edition of SQL Server… but if all those features/functionality come with Enterprise Edition you’d think that SQL Server would be substantially more expensive than its competitors right? WRONG!
![clip_image002[1]](https://msdntnarchive.z22.web.core.windows.net/media/TNBlogsFS/prod.evol.blogs.technet.com/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/00/00/00/85/48/metablogapi/1256.clip_image0021_30016B83.jpg "clip_image002[1]")
Note All prices are per processor with single core (based on newest Intel Xeon Nehalem processor) database pricing for purchases within the United States and are in United States dollars. Pricing is based on information available on vendor Web sites. The SQL Server base product includes all the functionalities in the base product.
OK sure that’s fine for a single processor but what about a 4 processor system with Dual or Quad or Six core processors?
![clip_image004[1]](https://msdntnarchive.z22.web.core.windows.net/media/TNBlogsFS/prod.evol.blogs.technet.com/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/00/00/00/85/48/metablogapi/2577.clip_image0041_402D337C.jpg "clip_image004[1]")
Note All prices are based on newest Intel Xeon Nehalem processor database pricing for purchases within the United States and are in United States dollars. Pricing is based on information available on vendor Web sites for Enterprise Edition.
Wait a second… so with SQL Server you can take advantage of multi-core processors without having to pay any extra? See a trend yet?
You’re probably thinking to yourself “He’s missing something… what about User Licensing? What about Standby Server?
The following graph compares prices based on a database application with two processors (dual-core) and 25 users.
![clip_image006[1]](https://msdntnarchive.z22.web.core.windows.net/media/TNBlogsFS/prod.evol.blogs.technet.com/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/00/00/00/85/48/metablogapi/2543.clip_image0061_25809763.jpg "clip_image006[1]")
Note All prices are based on newest Intel Xeon Nehalem processor database pricing for purchases within the United States and are in United States dollars. Pricing is based on information available on vendor Web sites for Enterprise Edition.
User Licensing….CHECK
The following graph compares prices based on a database application with two processors (dual-core) and 25 users with one standby server.
![clip_image002[3]](https://msdntnarchive.z22.web.core.windows.net/media/TNBlogsFS/prod.evol.blogs.technet.com/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/00/00/00/85/48/metablogapi/6378.clip_image0023_2EF955D9.jpg "clip_image002[3]")
Note All prices are based on newest Intel Xeon Nehalem processor database pricing for purchases within the United States and are in United States dollars. Pricing is based on information available on vendor Web sites for Enterprise Edition.
Standby Server… CHECK
Check out the Do Not Pay Too Much for Your Database Licenses whitepaper for more detailed information on how Microsoft SQL Server blows away the competition by having:
· Lower cost with advanced features included in the base license
· Lower cost with better multicore licensing
· Lower cost with better user licensing
· Lower cost with better standby server licensing
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Colin Stasiuk (MCP, MCTS SQL 2005/2008, MCITP DBDEV, and MCITP DBA) is an accomplished Microsoft SQL Server DBA who has been working with SQL Server since 1996. He is the founder of Benchmark IT Consulting and his specialties include SQL Server Administration, Performance Tuning, Security, Best Practice / Standards, Upgrades, and Consolidation. Colin is a proud PASS member, President of EDMPASS (The Edmonton Chapter of PASS), and has recently co-authored a book on SQL Server 2008 Policy Based Management.