What is Microsoft SQL Server 2014?
The relational database management system (RDBMS) - Microsoft SQL Server supports a wide range of applications related to business intelligence, transaction processing, and analysis in enterprise environments. Microsoft SQL Server is one of the three leading database technologies, together with Oracle Database and IBM DB2.
SQL is a special programming language for managing data in a relational database management system. A database server is a computer program that provides database services to other programs or computers, as defined by the client-server model. This means that SQL Server is a database server that implements structured query language (SQL).
SQL Server 2014 Standard or Enterprise?
Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Standard provides all the basic database, reporting, and analysis capabilities. With the Enterprise edition, you get all the features Standard has to offer. The additional options are aggregating up to eight nodes and performing asynchronous mirroring.
We strongly advise you to purchase an SQL Server that receives adequate support from Microsoft. The support can be either standard or extended. The standard Microsoft support covers updates while the extended support takes care of the security of the license.
For Microsoft SQL Server 2014, the expiration dates are as follows:
The expiration date of standard support: Already expired
The expiration date of extended support: 09-07-2024
CALs for Microsoft SQL Server 2014
A CAL is a license that grants rights to use Microsoft SQL Server 2014 features. Also known as "Client Access License", you need CALs to license the access of employees/devices. Depending on the amount of users and devices you can choose between two CAL types:
- Microsoft SQL Server 2014 User CALs
The User CAL license means that you pay for each user who accesses the services through the server. Let’s assume one of your employees needs access to the server via their laptop, iPad, smartphone and/or PC. In this case, it is more cost-efficient to provide the user with a User CAL instead of all the devices with Device CALs.
- Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Device CALs
With Device CAL licensing, you provide each device that accesses the server with a Device CAL. This is advantageous if you only want to use the license on one device or if there are fewer devices than users. Instead of providing all the users with User CALs, you can only provide the device with one Device CAL.
Please note that CALs are NOT included with Microsoft SQL 2014 Server Standard or Enterprise licenses and must be purchased separately.