I am currently with a host that I have been with for over a year on a dedicated dual CPU Win 2k server.

I have been paying a MS SQL 2000 license fee to them of $340/month (on top of server costs) for over a year now and am trying to find a way to save some $$ on this.

Do most people buy their license and where from?
What are the costs of the dual CPU license?

Is anyone else paying leasing fees? How much?

Any suggestions on what I should do? I am just an indie web developer who is a fan of this db software...

thanks
p.

If your provider has the SPLA agreement from Microsoft, their cost per-CPU for SQL Server 2000 is $169/month. In other words, they are charging you exactly what Microsoft charges them (well, okay, they're making a profit of $2/month on it.)

If you want to save money, drop back to a single-CPU server, and that will cut your fees in half.

Or, just drop windows, get a *nix like OS and then get MySQL! Then you've changed the price by 100%...its just like magic!

Originally posted by deltawolf
Or, just drop windows, get a *nix like OS and then get MySQL! Then you've changed the price by 100%...its just like magic!

I second that. A lot of my customers want me to do their databases in MySQL or PostgreSQL because it's free. MySQL really isn't all that different from MS SQL.

MySQL isn't much differnet from MS SQL? in which part?

MS SQL are somewhat a product close to Oracle and DB2.

Originally posted by Vox Hosting
I second that. A lot of my customers want me to do their databases in MySQL or PostgreSQL because it's free. MySQL really isn't all that different from MS SQL.

Heh if you don't know what you are talking about, you may as well just not say anything at all. It's completely different.

Though, if your customer doesn't really need ms sql, it would indeed be useful to use mysql instead.

thanks for the info, I didn't realize that the host had to pay that much because I have been with other hosts in the past who gave me MS SQL for much less...

Does anyone know how much the lisence costs flat out? and can I apply any of my prior lease payments to it?

thanks

In order to use MS SQL with multiple customer (hosting), you have to use the SPLA

sorry, but I dont think I was clear on that last one ... what I meant is I am a single customer and was wondering how much it would be for me to just purchase the license (2 CPU) directly from microsoft?

Are you using it on the web?

You will need a 2 CPU Processor License, which retails for about $5,000/processor :)

on the web?

Yes, for the backend to a website, I am the only admin for it tho and I have only like 3 or 4 databases.

5000$/cpu ?? ouch...

I was once told by an old host that he buys them in batches, like 5-10 at one time. He said he had extra ones available and thats why he could give it to me for (practically) free.

Is that true?

Would it be legit to go back to him and pay say, 50$/month for one of the licenses?

He technically cannot sell/rent/lease you the license. Yes, the license it about 4K per processor.

http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=233830

To give a MSSQL server licence for free you have to get it for free. If you get it for free, you probably don't get it from Microsoft because my friend Bill does not give away his softwares :) Your provider is billing you what he pays to Microsoft, there is no other legal option to run MSSQL on your server than the 2 options that were talked about, your $340 monthly fee or 10 000$ for 2 proc licence ... and as stated by rackmy : In order to use MS SQL with multiple customer (hosting), you have to use the SPLA. So there leaves you only 1 option (your current) if it's the case.

So hosts can't buy a batch of 10 say for a fixed monthly fee and say have only used 5 and then decide to give the other out at a discount rather than not at all?

Well, if he is willing to absorb the cost and pay for it himself and not involved you in the payment deal (provided the license is legit), it should be perfectly fine.

The monthly price will be the same for 1 or 10 licences and the host will not win nothing of buying 10 (volume) or if he gets a volume discount it will be minimal which should not give the possibility to offer you a free mssql licence. If you go with them, make sure the contract states that they provide the MSSQL and legal licence for it, because they could install it and then make you responsible if something happens stating that you installed it on your server and do no have the required licence.

Sounds like I am not getting taken with my current deal ($340/mo) damn microsoft...

I think I will just keep this with my current situation and slowly try to move to a couple mysql servers as I get time...

thanks everyone

my sql is nothing like ms sql other then they are both db's

my sql is not a enterprise level database its fine for websites but anytime you need triggers or stored procedures or anything like that you are sol. PostgreSQL is more compareble.

There is also another opensource DB based on Atabase(spelling?) but I forgot that name.