question

Good day,

You have two options to pay for SQL Server on Virtual Machine licensing: (1) pay per usage or (2) bring your own license (BYOL).

First option is used by default when you use Azure Virtual machine template with come with SQL Server. The Second option is mostly when you intsall the SQL Server yourself or when you configure the VM with SQL Server to use BYOL.

This document should provide more information:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/virtual-machines/windows/pricing-guidance

Hi,

I highly recommend Not to use the forum for LICENSE questions. It might look like we understand since we orders several dozens licenses ourselves, but I learned that this subject can be very complex and you better read the small letters and understand it 100% before you recommend someone. speak directly to a Microsoft licensing specialist, and you can get more detail information from them here:

https://www.microsoft.com/nl-nl/Licensing/existing-customer/activation-centers?rtc=1

byol means i dont have to enter the key manually like i used to do on premises right?

As mentioned above, for BYOL you have two options

(1) You can use a template of SQL Server which comes with the SQL Server and configure it to use BYOL

In this case you do not enter specific license key but only confirm that you have a license

Important! Notice the comment in this document!

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/licensing-faq/

You must report the usage of licenses to Microsoft using the License Mobility Verification form within 10 days.

(2) In this case it is done like any local installation according to the license you have and the version of the SQL Server

https://aka.ms/licensingdocs

Hi @eg1995-5273,

it is not sql on azure vms image, azure windows vm is already provisioned

Your environment is azure windows VM. You can install SQL server by yourself like SQL server installed on premise. You can also apply the SQL server license key like on premise.

If you have further SQL license question, please call 1-800-426-9400, Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. (Pacific Time) to speak directly to a Microsoft licensing specialist. Or you can go to Volume Licensing Service Center support. Please choose region/language and choose to call or have web. People there will help you more effectively.

If the response is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it, as this could help other community members looking for similar thread.

thanks guys now i fully understand the below:

BYOL means AHB, i can provision automatically byol images.
i can use payg gallery images if i want to use azure licenses and will be billed per hour
i have the eligibility to switch between payg and byol
i can install manually a sql image and activate it using a product key.

the only thing remaining that if what if i am migrating fro on premises i will need advise because all of the above are creating sql from scratch

scenario:
i have an on premises sql server which is already activated and i want to lift and shift to azure.

in this case the license also will be migrated? or what will be needed?

thank you so much in advance

Hi @eg1995-5273,

in this case the license also will be migrated? or what will be needed?

If the license key on premise SQL server is activated, the license key can not be applied to SQL server on Azure VM. If the license key is deactivated on premise SQL server, the license key can be used on SQL server on Azure VM.

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