I’ve recently seen some discussion around the limitations in core usage for SQL Server 2012. There is an explanation of what scenarios this applies to on MSDN which presents the following table:
|
SQL Server Edition |
Maximum Compute Capacity Used by a Single Instance (SQL Server Database Engine) |
Maximum Compute Capacity Used by a Single Instance (AS, RS) |
|
Enterprise Edition: Core-based Licensing 1 |
Operating system maximum |
Operating system maximum |
|
Developer |
Operating system maximum |
Operating system maximum |
|
Evaluation |
Operating system maximum |
Operating system maximum |
|
Business Intelligence |
Limited to lesser of 4 Sockets or 16 cores |
Operating system maximum |
|
Standard |
Limited to lesser of 4 Sockets or 16 cores |
Limited to lesser of 4 Sockets or 16 cores |
|
Web |
Limited to lesser of 4 Sockets or 16 cores |
Limited to lesser of 4 Sockets or 16 cores |
|
Express |
Limited to lesser of 1 Socket or 4 cores |
Limited to lesser of 1 Socket or 4 cores |
|
Express with Tools |
Limited to lesser of 1 Socket or 4 cores |
Limited to lesser of 1 Socket or 4 cores |
|
Express with Advanced Services |
Limited to lesser of 1 Socket or 4 cores |
Limited to lesser of 1 Socket or 4 cores |
1 Enterprise Edition with Server + Client Access License (CAL) based licensing is limited to a maximum of 20 cores per SQL Server instance.
(Taken from: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143760(v=sql.110).aspx)
You may also want to look at the Licensing guide found at http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/en/us/get-sql-server/licensing.aspx On page 16 it clearly states:
Software Upgrade Path for SQL Server 2008 R2
SQL Server 2008 R2 Upgrade to SQL Server 2012 Enterprise Edition processor licenses
Datacenter Edition processor licenses Enterprise Edition core licenses (No CPU limitation) Enterprise Edition server licenses Enterprise Edition server licenses (subject to 20-core limit) Standard Edition processor licenses Standard Edition core licenses Standard Edition server licenses Standard Edition server licenses This table shows upgrade options available to customers with SQL Server licenses. SQL Server 2012 use rights apply.
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