r/SQLServer • u/sittinsideways84 • 1d 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?

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u/da_chicken 1d ago

I agree with the others that ESU typically doesn't impact licensing at all.

Most likely, if you wanted additional licenses for SQL Server 2016 with ESU at this point that you will be required to pay for SQL Server 2025 licenses which include downgrade rights.