Some queries about SQL server deployment

[Haggisman]

We're looking at reducing our software licencing costs, and a major part of this is SQL server.

We currently have ~10 individual SQL servers set up across the network, each for their own individual application, e.g. SCE, antivirus, TFS, BES, SharePoint and a couple of our own applications, which each have their own SQL server installed on the same hardware.

Ideally I'd like to consolidate all of these onto a dedicated high spec. SQL server, meaning we'd only need 1 licence, however unfortunately I'm by no means an expert on SQL server, so have no idea if this is even possible?

So first question - is this doable/a good idea?

And if so what's the best way to go about doing it?

Thanks very much!

 

[Haggisman]

Main headaches will be SQL collation and resources, generally connection strings are easy to change. If you have different collations you may need more than one instance or SQL server on the "physical" box.

I don't think any of the instances are particularly complex, and after a bit more investigation today, it looks like several of the applications would run perfectly fine on the Express version - just running a couple of test migrations on a virtual box now

 

[Haggisman]

Check the documentation of the software sometimes they require their own instance. Some software won't be supported unless it has its own db instance.

But you can actually install multiple instances on to the same server using one license.

At one site we have one sql physical server that has the db for the DMS, billing software, bes, dictation software, contacts software and a few others all on one instance and the sql server barely flickers in terms of resources. We only have 100 user network though but still i would have expected more load on the sql server, especially fro the dms.

the sql box is hp dl380 g5 with 12gb ram. nothing overly special either.

I might look at going down this route instead then - we have a couple of boxes which have been decommissioned recently which should be up to the job

Surely if you have already bought the licences then any kind of consolidation exercise on licence costs alone would result in nil return? In fact unless you can consolidate onto a licenced box you already own, you are now forced down the SQL2012 licencing route which is (for us at least) is massively more epxensive than the old licence model.

The problem is more that we don't currently have the licenses and I've been tasked with reducing the number we require

 

[Haggisman]

Haha very good didn't even register that XD