Work efficiently with SQL Server 2014 Services

The SQL Server system consists of several components, called services by Microsoft, which facilitate both the comprehensive use of the functions and the administration. SQL Server 2014 includes the following server components:

• Database Engine
• analysis services
• reporting services
• Integration Services
• Master Data Services

SQL Server Database Engine

The SQL Server database engine or database module provides the basic functions for SQL Server 2014. This includes the processing as well as the storage, replication and backup of data. This database module also contains various tools for the administration or provision of relational and XML data as well as a DQS (Data Quality Services) server, which also works together with the Integration Services.

analysis services

This analysis component of Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Standard provides a set of tools that allow users to create and manage online analytical processing (OLAP) queries for trend analysis, sales forecasts, budget calculations, and financial reports. These include data mining applications for statistical calculations to identify trends or patterns in the analyzed data.

Reporting Services

The Reporting Services in SQL Server 2014 allow you to create reports in a variety of forms: either as a matrix, graph or in free form. These reports can also be easily and efficiently managed and delivered. The Reporting Services provide an extensible platform for developing your own reporting applications.

integration services

With Integration Services (SSIS), SQL Server 2014 provides a set of graphical tools and programmable objects that can be used to move, copy, or transform data. With the fixed roles available in the SSIS catalog database, the Integration Services make life much easier, especially for administrators.

Master Data Services

Master Data Services (Master Data Management - MDS) is an efficient and secure solution for managing domains, as well as customers, accounts and products, while ensuring the security of transactions. For this purpose, hierarchies as well as business rules can be managed with the MDS data versions. A special add-in for Excel additionally supports the Master Data Services.

Key enhancements with SQL Server 2014 - for optimized data analysis

Microsoft SQL Server 2014 provides users with a cloud-enabled information platform that provides a set of key tools and capabilities that enable organizations to deliver reliable solutions and applications to the cloud. These include in-memory OLTP functionality as well as Column Store Index and StreamInsight, which also support the hybrid cloud strategy with SQL Azure, which are described in more detail below.

SQL Server Data Tools for Business Intelligence

Other new features in SQL Server 2014 include high availability, scalability and the new SQL Server Data Tools for Business Intelligence (SSDT). The BI project templates support Visual Studio 2013 in addition to Analysis Services, Integration Services and Reporting Services.

In-memory technology with OLTP in the Enterprise Edition

In the Enterprise Edition of the new SQL release, the integrated in-memory OLTP - Online Transaction Processing - is particularly noteworthy. This feature - announced by Microsoft as "Project Hekaton" - represents a real turbocharger, which contributes to the considerable performance increase of SQL Server 2014. It is an in-memory database that supports the OLTP workloads built into Microsoft SQL Server 2014. In-memory OLTP complements the in-memory capabilities already available for data warehousing and business intelligence.

The memory-resident OLTP capabilities available with Hekaton enhance the performance of SQL Server applications without the need for additional optimization. Hekaton is only available in the Enterprise version, so companies that value fast performance should choose this edition.

Storage optimized xVelocity ColumnStore indices & AlwaysOn availability groups

Also only available in the Enterprise Edition are the updatable ColumnStore Indexes, which can be used to store, manage and retrieve data in a column-based data format.

Last but not least, SQL Server 2014 also offers AlwaysOn Availability Groups that support up to 8 secondary replicas, including 2 synchronous secondary replicas.

Microsoft SQL Server 2014 - System requirements

Working memory: min. 1 GB RAM, 4 GB or more recommended

Processor: at least 1 GHz for 32-bit systems or 1.4 GHz for 64-bit systems, 2 GHz recommended

Disk space: at least 6 GB, also depending on the installed SQL Server 2014 components

Operating system: Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 in 32-bit and 64-bit versions respectively

Windows SQL Server Editions 2014 and licensing from Wiresoft

SQL Server 2014 is offered by Wiresoft in two main editions, which take into account the different needs of organizations and individuals in terms of features and performance:

• The Enterprise Edition of SQL Server 2014 is ideal for mission-critical applications that require strong in-memory performance and security with high availability.
• The Standard Edition of SQL Server 2014 already provides comprehensive functionality for middle-tier applications and data marts.

The new Microsoft licensing model for SQL Server 2014

The new so-called license metrics from Microsoft also apply to the 2014 version of SQL Server.

This defines, depending on the server edition, which licensing options are offered to use the SQL software.

With the older Microsoft Server versions, it did not matter how many cores a processor had. Now, however, for certain editions of SQL Server, their number is the basis for defining license requirements. The reason for this is the increased number of cores, which further increases the performance of the processors, and thus also the growing workloads. Core licensing thus corresponds in a certain way to the higher performance scaling.

The Standard of the SQL Server Version 2014 is - in contrast to other editions like Enterprise - not only available as 2-core licensing but also with licensing per server/CALs. With this, Microsoft takes into account the lower demands of small and medium-sized companies in terms of performance and scalability of services. They can also benefit from the performance and cloud features of SQL Server 2014 and use the most cost-effective licensing alternative with servers & CALs.

To determine which form of SQL Server 2014 Standard Edition licensing is more appropriate for your organization, you should identify and analyze typical workloads and then select the appropriate edition or licensing form for Standard. This also depends on the number of your employees and the required virtualization of services. Although server/CAL licensing is often the more cost-effective option, in some cases it can be advantageous to choose licensing by core. Below you will find a brief explanation of the two licenses for SQL Server 2014. If you have any questions about the most favorable form for your company or requirements, please contact us for a consultation.

Licensing of SQL Server version 2014 with 2-core packages

According to Microsoft, SQL Server 2014 core-based licensing is based on the following criteria: A single core license is valid for two cores at a time - instead of one license per processor. However, Microsoft has introduced an additional criterion so that the number of cores per processor is not equal to the number of core licenses required, but rather that the minimum number of cores is always 16, regardless of whether an engine has fewer cores.

Therefore, you must purchase at least 16 core licenses in any case, i.e. 8 packages of 2-core licenses. Further licenses in the form of CALs are then not required. Engines with a lower number of cores than 16 can therefore not be licensed at a lower price.

Server/CAL Licensing for SQL Server 2014 Standard

When licensing with Server License plus Client Access Licenses (CAL), these two components are required: The server first requires its own license for SQL Server Edition 2014 Standard. This includes admin rights, but in order for an employee to use the server services and features, he or she must have an additional Client Access License. Here you can choose between the CAL for a user or for an end device - called user or device CAL. Both are also available from Wiresoft at a special price.

Licence Microsoft SQL Server 2014 from Wiresoft at a favourable price

At Wiresoft you can get SQL Server 2014 in the standard as well as in the enterprise edition as original Microsoft licenses. Thereby you profit particularly from the price advantage which Wiresoft grants you with these and also other Microsoft software licenses. Because all offered Microsoft products are unused licenses, which come from European companies, are 100% applicable - and were acquired absolutely legally by us. Because according to the judgement of the European Court of Justice it is allowed to resell or purchase software products such as server licenses. Therefore you can be sure to buy a fully usable license package from Wiresoft, which has been thoroughly checked for authenticity by us. Many customers trust in the license offer of Wiresoft as well as in the professional advice. Please contact us if you have any questions about your specific licensing for Microsoft SQL Server 2014.