Forum Discussion
SQL Server Express with Azure AD Connect Sync
Hello, Azure AD Connect Sync comes with a SQL Server Express edition. If the customer hits the limits in the Express can they install a SQL Standard edition in its place? If they can is the SQL i...
You really want to check this with your account manager - if you have one, as the answer on adopting SQL Server Standard or Enterprise is that it's never free - strictly-speaking.
- If you do not have SQL Server Standard or Enterprise currently, there will be a cost. For Standard, you'd most likely be looking at "server + CAL" (cheapest but comes with caveats);
- If you have SQL Server Standard already but are using the "server + CAL" model, you may need an additional CAL to accommodate the AAD Connect host;
- To be clear, you cannot co-host databases from other products (including AAD Connect's database) on an existing SQL Server instance covered under the SCCM licencing model (see link below).
While not "free", if you have an existing SQL Server host that has spare CALs under the SQL Server's "server + CAL" licencing model, or is licenced under the "per core" (Standard or Enterprise) model, then you may be able to get away with "no additional cost", but that's not really he same as free, either.
Some links:
- Product and licensing FAQ - Configuration Manager | Microsoft Docs
- Microsoft's SQL Server product licencing PDF
Cheers,
Lain