Info-Tech sees enterprises achieving a 3 to 1 reduction of SQL Server licenses in consolidating smaller database instances while upgrading to Microsoft SQL Server 2008. Additionally, required costs for hardware, operating system licensing, backup, and server management will be reduced.
The Cost of Small Database Proliferation
It is not unusual for enterprises to have a number of small MS SQL Server databases supporting departmental or line of business application and reporting needs. Many of these instances were provisioned through an existing enterprise ‘Server plus CAL (Client Access Licensing)’ agreement as it was the lowest acquisition cost for a MS SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition license.