What is Microsoft SQL Server 2016?
Microsoft SQL Server 2016 is one of the three leading database technologies, together with Oracle Database and IBM DB2. SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS) that supports a wide range of applications for transaction processing, business intelligence, and analysis in enterprise environments.
SQL is a special programming language for managing data in a relational database management system. A database server, as you may know, is a computer program that offers database services to other computers or programs, as defined by the client-server model. This makes SQL Server a database server that implements structured query language (SQL).
SQL Server 2016 Standard or Enterprise?
With Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Standard you can use all the basic functionalities such as reporting, database, and analysis functions. SQL Server Enterprise, on the other hand, provides all the functionality of Standard, with the addition of aggregation of up to eight nodes and performing asynchronous mirroring.
We recommend you purchase a version of SQL Server that receives adequate support from Microsoft. There are two types of support - standard which includes updates and extended support responsible for the license’s security. Keep in mind that the standard support expires first. See below.
For Microsoft SQL Server 2016, the expiration dates are as follows:
Make sure you purchase a version of SQL Server 2016 that receives adequate support from Microsoft. This includes standard support (updates) and extended support (security). See the end support dates below:
The expiration date of standard support: Already expired
The expiration date of extended support: 14-07-2026
CALs for Microsoft SQL Server 2016
CAL licenses, also called "Client Access Licenses" grant rights to use the features of SQL Server 2016. There are two types of SQL Server 2016 CALs to choose from:
- Microsoft SQL Server 2016 User CALs
The SQL Server 2016 User CAL license ensures that users can access the server. For example, if an employee has multiple devices via which they want to access the server, it would be most efficient to provide that user with a User CAL license. This can be purchased in addition to the SQL Server 2016 license.
- Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Device CALs
With SQL Server 2016 Device CAL licensing, you pay for each device that accesses the Server. This is advantageous if you only want to use the license on one device or if fewer devices than users need to access the server.
Connect to SQL Server 2016 remotely
To be able to use SQL Server 2016 remotely, users require a Remote Desktop Services (RDS) license in the form of RDS User/Device CALs. RDS CALs for SQL Server 2016 operate under the same licensing rules as standard User/Device CALs. This means that whether organizations choose to purchase User or Device CALs, depends on which of the two options is represented less. In other words, if your company has several users working on a single device, it makes more sense financially to purchase Device CALs. If, on the other hand, employees use more devices per person, User CALs would be more budget friendly.
Please note that CALs are NOT included with Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Standard or Enterprise licenses and must be purchased separately.