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Microsoft SQL Licensing Considerations When Using It as a Backend for GFI Archiver

Author: Luis Fernandes Updated

Overview 

This article details relevant licensing information for you to keep in mind when working with Microsoft SQL as the backend of GFI Archiver.

 

Information

There are two editions of Microsoft SQL Server that you should be aware of:

  • Microsoft SQL Server Express
  • Microsoft SQL Server.

 

Microsoft SQL Server Express

Microsoft SQL Server Express is the free version of the product and has certain limitations compared to the full versions:

  • 10GB per database size limit (as of Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express).
  • Maximum usage of 1 CPU.
  • Maximum usage of 1GB of RAM.

Note: Refer to Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2012 for a complete list of limitations.

The Express version can be considered to be used for GFI Archiver installations up to 150 mailboxes and should be used in combination with the Archive Store type Microsoft SQL Server Express with File Storage.

It is important to note that an Archive Store of the type Microsoft SQL Server Express with File Storage can contain the metadata of up to half million emails in a 10GB-SQL Express database (irrespective of the size of the emails). With this Archive Store type, the SQL database will only contain a small amount of metadata, e.g., subject, email sender, recipients, etc., per email and not the raw emails themselves. The raw emails will be stored in an encrypted and compressed form in a separate folder on disk.

 

Microsoft SQL Server

If your archive needs are more significant than what Microsoft SQL Express allows, then the Microsoft SQL Server version is more suitable (and recommended by GFI Archiver). Microsoft SQL Server 2012 has two licensing models:

License Model

Description

Per Core

Per core pricing model requires the user to license each physical core. The benefit of this model would be that you would not worry about the number of users, and Microsoft does not license a multi-core processor as multiple CPUs.

Server + per user CAL (Client Access License)

Using this licensing model, you would purchase one server license and a SQL Server 2012 CAL for each user or device accessing the server.

Note that GFI Archiver uses connection pooling (also called multiplexing), and it does not reduce the number of Microsoft licenses required. For example:

  • 250 employees access their archived emails via GFI Archiver.
  • They only open direct connections via a browser to the GFI Archiver web interface.
  • GFI Archiver handles all connections to the Microsoft SQL backend databases.

In this scenario, Microsoft SQL Server would need to be licensed for at least all 250 employees, as they indirectly access the Microsoft SQL Server. If the Microsoft SQL Server is used for other applications, then these connections must be taken into consideration.

You may want to consult with Microsoft or your Microsoft partner for further advice on this topic. For more information on Microsoft SQL licensing, refer to the below documents from Microsoft (also attached):