SQL Licensing for Enterprise environment

Question

Hi Guys,
currently we are planing our possible ways to migrate to Lync2013. Due to our Microsoft-EA we already own Lync Enterprise CALs and 3 Lync Server.
Now we have some reallly important questions on the Backend SQL issue:
after all we got confilicting statements from our MS-Licensing Partner an some Consultants.
1. ) it looks like, that Microsoft does not support an "activ/activ"-SQL Cluster even if LYNC gets an own instance.
       this is an unbelievable statemen in consideration of the face a customer already spent a lot of bucks for the SQL-Core-LICs.
2.) if we'll use a dedicated SQL Standard Edition we also need SQL-CALs in addition to the Lync-CALs for all users using LYNC. the LYNC Enterprise-CAL does not contain the right to access the SQL-host. otherwise we need SQL-corelicenses which are ridiculous
expensive.
Is there someone who solved this issue for an supported environment.
regards
Heiko

Answer 1

Hi, 
First let's clarify some points 
1- There is no requirements for SQL CAL licensing For Lync, disregarding the SQL version that you are using ( standard/Enterprise), why ? because :
Lync Users doesn't directly access the SQL backend
and also these licences are already covered by the Lync Server License that you already purchased. 
2- The only way to have an Active/Active SOL Cluster, is by configuring Always On availability Features and indeed Lync server 2013 doesn't support these features. 
3- When it comes to SQL licensing options the only the SQL Standard edition has Sever/CAL or Per core Licensing option. Where the SQL Enterprise Edition can only be licensed with the Per-core option. 
4- Lync Server 2013 support SQL Mirroring or SQL failover cluster as database high availability options. I both cases the following is applicable:
Only active SQL instances requires licenses 
dedicated SQL instances can be hosted on Servers which are part of always on availability groups or Failover Cluster
References 
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg398990.aspx 
http://blog.micromail.com/2013/07/01/beginners-guide-to-sql-server-licensing/ 
Regards,
Charbel Hanna
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