Forum Discussion
Power BI Report Server Licensing
I plan to upgrade from SQL Server Standard 2008 to SQL Server Standard 2016 later this year. If I want to use Power BI Report Server do I have to buy a Power BI Premium license, or can I download and run Power BI Report Server alongside or as a replacement for SSRS based on the licenses I purchase for SQL Server Standard 2016
You have two options.
You can buy Power BI Premium, this allows you to license the same number of cores that you purchase in capacity in the premium license on premises for your Power BI Report Server.
You can purchase SQL Enterprise Edition + Software Assurance. This give you license to install the Power BI Report Server.
Only the Content Creators (those building reports) need to have a Power BI Pro license in both cases.
Alternatively, can I use Power BI Pro Service and publish content for consumers with the understanding each consumer must also have a Power BI Pro License? The Pro license gives you the ability to share content in the Power BI Service. You don't get the Power BI Report Server in this license. You are correct, report creators and end users need Pro licenses.
In this scenario, you would have a normal SSRS report server, and the Power BI Service. They would not communicate, and you couldn't put PBI Reports on the SSRS Server.
One more licensing question for you all. Interesting question came up today. As SQL Server Enterprise w/ SA users, we're used to deploying SSRS and being fully covered to deploy paginated reports however we like. If we move to PBI Report Server this year for future growth, but ONLY continue to deploy SSRS-style paginated reports and no (even on-premises) Power BI Reports...do we actually still need to have Power BI Pro licenses? I suppose the actual question is, are Power BI Pro licenses required to deploy paginated reports to PBIRS?
No, you need Power BI Pro licenses only when you want to publish Power BI reports.