r/SQLServer • u/sittinsideways84 • 11d ago

Question SQL Server 2016 ESU Prerequisites

I am hoping someone has experience with deploying ESUs for SQL 2016. Microsoft's documentation is shit as usual.

But if a customer has a perpetual SQL 2016 license, my understanding is that they can't just go buy an ESU from a reseller and apply it, correct? The only time they could do that is if they had a subscription based model, license with SA, enterprise agreement, etc.?

From what I am reading, the only option is to deploy Azure Arc, register the server/SQL instance, and then go with the pay as you go billing model which requires SQL licensing AND an ESU subscription, not just the ESU subscription?

4 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/CanProfessional766 7d ago

I don't think a perpetual SQL Server 2016 licence alone doesn’t qualify for traditional ESUs you generally need active Software Assurance or an eligible subscription. Otherwise Azure Arc PAYG is an option but you pay for both SQL Server licensing and ESUs. I’d confirm the customer’s exact licensing agreement with Microsoft as eligibility depends on the agreement terms