Sep 21, 2016 I am looking to download SQL Server 2012 Enterprise Edition.However,I can see only 2012 Express edition or the latest version offering(2016).If anyone can share me the link to download SQL Server 2012 Enterprise Edition? Also kindly share details on when SQL Server 2012 is getting Out of. Hello, There is no public download of the Enterprise. Mar 06, 2012 There are two methods avaliable to download and trial Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Evaluation as a DVD image and as self-extracting CAB file. SQL Server 2012 Evaluation DVD Image: This image file contains X86 and X64 installatable versions. You can use this image to burn your own DVD.
- Sql Server Enterprise Edition Download
- Microsoft Sql Server 2012 Enterprise Edition Free Download 64 Bit
- Sql Server 2012 Enterprise Download 64 Bit Free
- Sql Server 2014 Enterprise Edition
SP1 x64 installations are currently experiencing an issue in certain configurations as described in Knowledge Base article KB2793634. The article provides a fix for this issue that is currently available for download, and is recommended for application immediately following a Service Pack 1 installation. The fix is also being made available on Microsoft Update.
Microsoft SQL Server 2012 x64 service packs are cumulative updates and upgrade all editions and service levels of SQL Server 2012 x64 to SP1 x64. This service pack contains SQL Server 2012 x64 Cumulative Update 1 (CU1) and Cumulative Update 2 (CU2).
This download site contains the following packages and service patches for the Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP1 x64 release:
Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP1 x64 Update - this package contains the Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 1 x64 update to be applied to existing SQL Server 2012 x64 installations.
Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP1 x64 Slipstream- This package provides the capability to perform new SQL Server 2012 x64 instance installations (or SQL Server 2008/SQL Server 2008 R2 Upgrades) culminating with Service Pack 1 x64 pre-installed. The slipstream installation package consists of a compressed self-extracting .exe and a ‘.box’ payload file that contains the original SQL Server 2012 release along with Service Pack 1 x64. The .exe file can be directly executed, or utilized from the command prompt just as SQL Server 2012 x64 Setup.exe would be (See Install SQL Server 2012 x64 from the Command Prompt).
Microsoft SQL Server 2012 x64 service packs are cumulative updates and upgrade all editions and service levels of SQL Server 2012 x64 to SP1 x64. This service pack contains SQL Server 2012 x64 Cumulative Update 1 (CU1) and Cumulative Update 2 (CU2).
This download site contains the following packages and service patches for the Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP1 x64 release:
Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP1 x64 Update - this package contains the Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 1 x64 update to be applied to existing SQL Server 2012 x64 installations.
Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP1 x64 Slipstream- This package provides the capability to perform new SQL Server 2012 x64 instance installations (or SQL Server 2008/SQL Server 2008 R2 Upgrades) culminating with Service Pack 1 x64 pre-installed. The slipstream installation package consists of a compressed self-extracting .exe and a ‘.box’ payload file that contains the original SQL Server 2012 release along with Service Pack 1 x64. The .exe file can be directly executed, or utilized from the command prompt just as SQL Server 2012 x64 Setup.exe would be (See Install SQL Server 2012 x64 from the Command Prompt).
By: Simon Liew | Updated: 2016-06-09 | Comments | Related: More >Licensing
Problem
Selecting the right version of SQL Server to install is important to make sure you are getting the correct features that are necessary for your configuration. As an example, in the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) there are two downloadable editions of SQL Server 2012 Enterprise Edition (EE); SQL Server 2012 Enterprise Edition – Server/CAL and SQL Server 2012 Enterprise Edition – Per Core. What are the differences between these two downloads?
Solution
After you have login successfully into the Microsoft VLSC web site, you can see there are two SQL Server 2012 Enterprise Editions on the download page as per the below screen shot.
There are two key differences between SQL Server 2012 Enterprise Edition - Server/CAL vs. Per Core:
- Licensing agreement
- Processor compute capacity
Other than that, both have the same features and functions.
This tip uses SQL Server 2012 EE as an example in the licensing agreement to simplify explanation, but the same differences discussed would be applicable to the Enterprise Edition of SQL Server 2014 and SQL Server 2016.
SQL Server Enterprise Edition Licensing Agreement
An active Software Assurance (SA) benefit allows customers to upgrade their SQL Server deployments to the same corresponding newly released version of SQL Server at no additional cost during their agreement term. For example, if you have an existing SQL Server 2008 R2 EE – Server/CAL software license covered by an active SA agreement when SQL Server 2014 was released you were entitled to upgrade to SQL Server 2014 EE – Server/CAL at no additional cost.
SQL Server 2008 R2 EE – Server/CAL is used as an example here because EE Server licenses have ceased to be available for new agreements. For customers who have purchased SQL Server 2008 R2 EE Server licenses, then SQL Server 2012 EE (or a higher version) - Server/CAL download is applicable in this scenario.
In the Per Core licensing model, whether licensing the physical or virtual machine they should download and deploy SQL Server 2012 EE (or higher version) - Per Core.
The table below describes the version upgrade rights offered under SA for qualified licenses.
Version upgrade rights for SQL Server 2008 R2 EE | |
---|---|
SQL Server 2008 R2 EE Server licenses (ceased to be available) | SQL Server 2012 EE (or higher version) - Server/CAL ** subject to 20-core limit |
SQL Server 2008 R2 EE Processor licenses (ceased to be available) | SQL Server 2012 EE (or higher version) - Per Core |
Processor Compute Capacity
SQL Server 2012 EE – Server/CAL only supports up to 20 physical cores on a physical machine and up to 20 virtual logical processors on a virtual machine. SQL Server 2012 EE – Per Core does not have this limitation and would be able to support up to the operating system maximum.
The table below provides a matrix which summarizes the processor compute capacity that can be used by a single SQL Server EE instance.
SQL Server 2012 Edition | Physical | Physical hyper-thread enabled | Virtual |
---|---|---|---|
SQL Server EE – Server | 20 physical cores | 40 logical processors | 20 logical processors |
SQL Server EE – Per Core | Operating system maximum | Operating system maximum | Operating system maximum |
Sql Server Enterprise Edition Download
SQL Server 2012 EE – Server/CAL Deployment
The screen shot below is an installation using SQL Server 2012 EE – Server/CAL download from VLSC on a virtual machine with 24 logical processors. The product name indicates something that we are familiar with seeing - Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise (64-bit).
The screen shot below is an informational message taken from the SQL Server Error Log on this virtual machine indicating that only 20 logical processors are in-use out of the 24 logical processors allocated to the virtual machine. This is not an error message, but rather an intended limitation because the EE Server licenses should only run on servers with a total of twenty cores or less.
SQL Server 2012 EE – Per Core Deployment
SQL Server 2012 EE - Server/CAL on the same virtual machine above goes through an Edition Upgrade using SQL Server 2012 EE – Per Core download media. This type of upgrade and vice-versa is officially documented and supported by Microsoft.
The product name now will indicate - Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise: Core-based Licensing (64-bit). So unless you see the core-based licensing in the Product name the processor compute capacity is limited to 20 cores.
The SQL Server Error Log will indicate an informational message that all 24 logical processors are in-use for the SQL Server 2012 EE – Per Core installation.
Summary
SA supports a variety of customer upgrade and downgrade scenarios in the licensing agreement. Licensing is a very complicated topic and this tip only covers a couple specific examples. You should check with your organization's Microsoft licensing representative and deploy the appropriate Enterprise Edition of SQL Server which you are licensed to use.
As noted, this tip uses SQL Server 2012 EE as an example in the licensing agreement to simplify explanation, but the same differences discussed would be applicable to the Enterprise Edition of SQL Server 2014 and SQL Server 2016.
Next Steps
Last Updated: 2016-06-09
About the author
Microsoft Sql Server 2012 Enterprise Edition Free Download 64 Bit
Simon Liew is an independent SQL Server Consultant in Sydney, Australia. He is a Microsoft Certified Master for SQL Server 2008 and holds a Master’s Degree in Distributed Computing.
View all my tips
View all my tips