Notes & articles

Using flexible licensing with SQL Backup Pro and SQL HyperBac

Flexible licensing applies to the SQL Backup Pro and SQL HyperBac backup tools when you purchase them as part of the SQL DBA Bundle or the SQL Backup and Restore Bundle.

If you've purchased either bundle, read this article to learn how to get the most out of your purchase using flexible licensing.

If you are evaluating the bundles prior to purchasing, see Evaluating bundle products for further information.

If you need any more information about flexible licensing for SQL Backup Pro and SQL HyperBac, send an email to dba.info@red-gate.com.

How flexible licensing works

SQL Backup Pro and SQL HyperBac each offer powerful backup compression and encryption features for SQL Server backups. The tools differ in their approach to backup management, integration with SQL Server, and a number of other features. To help you decide which backup tool to install on each server, see SQL Server backup tools, which includes a detailed feature comparison.

Flexible licensing offers you the choice to install and activate any combination of the two backup tools, SQL Backup Pro and SQL HyperBac, on each licensed server. If you decide to use both tools together on the same server, read Using SQL Backup Pro and SQL HyperBac together for important information about how the products interact.

Definition of a "server" for flexible licensing

When you purchase the SQL DBA Bundle or SQL Backup and Restore Bundle, you pay for a certain number of licensed servers. A server is equivalent to a single Windows installation or Operating System Environment (physical or virtual).

If you are running multiple SQL Server instances on one server (for example, a default instance, and several named instances), you need only one license to cover the use of SQL Backup Pro or SQL HyperBac with any of the SQL Server instances running on that server.

For example:

• Assume you have one physical server, running two SQL Server instances (the default instance, and a named instance, "PROD_B"). To run SQL Backup Pro or SQL HyperBac against any database on this server (on either SQL Server instance), you'll need just one license.
• Assume you have two physical servers, each running a separate Windows installation. To run SQL Backup Pro or SQL HyperBac on both servers, you'll need two licenses. The same applies if the servers are working together as a cluster; you'll need two licenses to run the backup tools on both sides of the cluster.
• Assume you have one physical server that's running four virtual Windows machines (virtual servers). You'll need a license for each virtual machine that runs SQL Backup Pro or SQL HyperBac.

Note that flexible licensing always enables you to install either a single backup tool, or both backup tools together, on a licensed server; you don't need extra licenses to use both tools on the same licensed server.

Flexible licensing example for a five-server bundle license

Assume you have purchased a five-server bundle license (for either the SQL DBA Bundle or the SQL Backup and Restore Bundle). This example considers installation of the SQL Backup Pro and SQL HyperBac tools in the bundle only.

1. Initial installation

Initially, you choose to install and activate SQL HyperBac on two servers, and SQL Backup Pro on two additional servers (licensed servers are shaded green; unlicensed servers are grey):

2. Installing more backup tools

Later, you install and activate SQL HyperBac on a fifth server, and also install SQL Backup Pro on a server that already has SQL HyperBac installed and activated:

3. Exceeding the maximum number of licensed servers

You now install SQL HyperBac on a sixth server. However, you will be unable to activate SQL HyperBac on this server, because you have already activated server tools on five servers (licensed servers are shaded green; the server that exceeds the bundle license-limit is red):

If you need to deactivate the license for a specific server, you can do this using the SQL Backup Pro GUI, or using the HyperBac Configuration Manager.

Licensing other tools in the bundles

The SQL DBA Bundle and SQL Backup and Restore Bundle include other products in addition to SQL Backup Pro and SQL HyperBac:

• The SQL DBA Bundle also includes SQL Virtual Restore, SQL Monitor, and SQL Multi Script Unlimited
• The SQL Backup and Restore Bundle also includes SQL Virtual Restore

For both bundles, SQL Virtual Restore can be licensed only on the same servers for which you have SQL Backup Pro or SQL HyperBac licensed.

For the SQL DBA Bundle, SQL Monitor can be licensed on any server, independent of whether you have SQL Backup Pro, SQL HyperBac, or SQL Virtual Restore licensed on the same server.

SQL Multi Script Unlimited is licensed per user; you can execute scripts against an unlimited number of SQL Servers. If you purchase multiple licenses of the SQL DBA Bundle, you can license each copy of SQL Multi Script for a different user.

Evaluating bundle products

You can evaluate individual products in each bundle before deciding whether to purchase a bundle license.

However, because SQL HyperBac and SQL Virtual Restore share components, you cannot license only one of these products while continuing to evaluate the other. If you decide to license just one of these products, the trial period for the remaining product ceases.

If you would like to continue with your evaluation of the remaining product, please contact Red Gate to obtain a trial extension.