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MSProg-4478 asked AlbertoMorillo edited

Azure SQL MI DR Licensing

Hi,
we have provisioned Azure SQL MI for our database in our primary region. We have also provisioned an secondary MI instance for our DR purpose in the separate, paired region using geo-replication fail over group. link here https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/auto-failover-group-overview?tabs=azure-powershell



My question is around SQL licensing for the DR MI. I understand there is no SQL licensing cost for the DR MI.
where do we mark/set the secondary instance as the DR so no licesing costs are incurred? I do not see any setting on the Azure portal that will allow me to say effectively 'This is my DR instance so no licenseing cost will be applied'

Please advise

azure-sql-database
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MSProg-4478 answered AlbertoMorillo edited

Hi @AlbertoMorillo thanks for the response. yes paying for the instance is one aspect because the instance is always running.
What i really wanted clarity on was do we pay for the SQL licensing as well? in our current on-prem , we do not pay SQL licensing for the DR server.
i was hoping a similar arrangement will apply to cloud as well.

any further comments, anyone please?

thanks

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Exactly, on hybrid environments (on premises - SQL VM on Azure IaaS) you don't pay licenses for the DR server. On Azure SQL PaaS you don't pay license only on DTU-model. On other flavors on SQL on PaaS (Azure Managed Instance, Azure SQL vCore) you pay license fees, and it does not matter the instance or database is used as part of DR solution.

Azure SQL PaaS does have the license benefits for DR that hybrid scenarios with IaaS offer. Please read he Azure Hybrid Benefit for Azure SQL Paas and Managed Instance here. For scenarios on-premises and Azure Managed Instance you can save money 30% on licenses

For scenarios 2 Managed Instances PaaS (1 DR) you can save if you have to 2 SQL licenses on-premises with software assurance that you can apply. But you are not saving because one is a DR instance at all.



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AlbertoMorillo answered AlbertoMorillo edited

According to this article published by a MSFT employee that was assigned to the Azure Managed Instance team at Microsoft, and the most prolific author about Managed Instance you will find on the Web, he mentions "you need to pay for this additional instance" that you get involved on geo-replication.

As the second instance is always available and ready for a failover, you have to pay for those compute resources available. No price or license reduction for using it as DR.

The only other option available for DR that may help you avoid the cost of a second instance is Geo-Restore, that the article also explains.

SQL Server Replication for Managed Instance also implies you need to pay for additional instances.



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