Posted On: Jun 8, 2023
Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS) Custom for SQL Server now allows customers to use their own SQL Server installation media when creating an instance. By using Bring Your Own Media (BYOM), customers may leverage their existing SQL Server licenses with Amazon RDS Custom for SQL Server. Amazon RDS Custom is a managed database service that allows customization of the underlying operating system and database environment. Managed features of RDS Custom for SQL Server include Multi-AZ deployment, point-in-time recovery and more.
Previously, when using Amazon RDS Custom for SQL Server, customers used a License-Included hourly pay-as-you-go model. With BYOM, customers can supply their own SQL Server licenses on Amazon RDS Custom for SQL Server. This allows customers who have already purchased SQL Server licenses to save on license costs, while offloading the undifferentiated heavy lifting of database management to Amazon RDS Custom.
To get started with RDS Custom for SQL Server using BYOM, read this blog for a step-by-step guide or visit the AWS Documentation. Amazon RDS Custom for SQL Server’s BYOM capabilities are generally available in the following AWS Regions: US East (Ohio, N. Virginia), US West (Oregon), Asia Pacific (Mumbai, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo), Canada (Central), Europe (Frankfurt, Ireland, London, Stockholm), and South America (São Paulo).
See Amazon RDS Custom for SQL Server Pricing for up-to-date pricing of instances, storage, data transfer and regional availability.
6/26/2023 - With the BYOM option, customers can leverage their existing SQL Server licenses with Amazon RDS Custom for SQL Server, subject to Microsoft’s licensing terms. The License Mobility Page offers detailed information on the process. Microsoft requires that customers complete and send a License Mobility verification form.