How to license SQL Reporting Services

7.19.2004 | 7:48 pm

I have been trying to broaden my skillset by taking an intense interest in the licensing surrounding solutions I implement.

There seems to be a lot of confusion around licensing SQL Reporting Services.

I have done a lot of research into it and here are some key points:

• There are 3 Editions of SQL RS (http://www.microsoft.com/sql/reporting/productinfo/features.asp)
  • Developer
  • Standard
  • Enterprise
• SQL RS can be deployed in many different scenarios (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2000/deploy/rsdepgd.mspx)
  • Database + Report Server on same machine;
  • Database on one machine, report server on another machine;
  • Database on one machine, report server on multiple machines in a web farm;
• SQL Reporting Services Consists of 2 Components
  • The configuration database
  • The Report Server application (website + windows service)
• Think of SQL RS as not being 'free' - think of it as an add on to SQL Server (Developer/Standard/Enterprise) edition.
• SQL RS must be installed on a machine that is licensed for SQL Server (either by processor or by CAL)
• The edition of SQL RS that can be installed must correspond to the edition of SQL Server that is installed :

• SQL Edition	SQL RS Editions
  Developer Edition	Developer Edition
  Standard Edition	Standard Edition
  Enterprise Edition	Enterprise (or Standard but why?)

• SQL Server Developer Edition --- is licensed to work with ----> SQL Reporting Services Developer Edition
• SQL Server Enterprise Edition --- is licensed to work with ----> SQL Reporting Services Enterprise
• SQL Server Enterprise Edition --- is licensed to work with ----> SQL Reporting Services Standard (I dont know why you would want to do this)
• SQL Server Standard Edition --- is licensed to work with ----> SQL Reporting Services Standard Edition
• If you are using SQL Server Standard Edition the 'Configuration Database' must be installed on the same physical machine as the 'Report Server'
• If you are running this configuration:
  • Physical Box 1
    • Report Server
  • Physical Box 2
    • SQL Server
  • Edition: Enterprise Edition
• If you are running this configuration:
  • Physical Box 1
    • Report Server
    • SQL Server
  • Edition: Standard Edition or Enterprise Edition
• If you are running this configuration:
  • Physical Box 1
    • Report Server (web farm)
  • Physical Box 2
    • Report Server (web farm)
  • Physical Box 3
    • SQL Server
  • Edition: Enterprise Edition
• You must use SQL Server Reporting Services Enterprise Edition if:
  • Want to use multiple Report Servers i.e.. clustering
  • Want to use Security Extensions (extremely complex and not usually used)
  • Data Driven Subscriptions