How to activate License Free passive secondary failover instance of SQL Server 2019/2022 in AWS RDS for Custom?

Question

Microsoft has made SQL Server 2019/2022 license free if they are designated as passive, secondary failover instance (not receiving any application read/write workload). 
https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2019/10/30/new-high-availability-and-disaster-recovery-benefits-for-sql-server/

Amazon AWS allows bringing media of SQL Server to AWS RDS for Custom as mentioned in this announcement
https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2023/06/rds-custom-sql-server-bring-your-own-media/

How can we create Multi-AZ AWS RDS for Custom SQL Server 2019 without paying SQL Server license cost on passive, secondary, failover instance?

light · Answer

There are 2 ways to license SQL Server on RDS Custom for SQL Server: License Included, or Bring-Your-Own-Media.

For Bring-Your-Own-Media, you provide your own installation media and license, which you can use in accordance to Microsoft terms. The [License Mobility Page](https://aws.amazon.com/windows/resources/licensemobility/) offers detailed information on the process. Because RDS Custom's Multi-AZ secondary instance is a passive node, it qualifies as a passive, secondary failover instance.

Documentation on the Multi-AZ deployment model for RDS Custom for SQL Server [can be found here](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/UserGuide/custom-sqlserver-multiaz.html#custom-sqlserver-multiaz.prerequisites).

For a blog on getting started, step by step with BYOM, [click here](https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/database/optimize-your-sql-server-costs-by-using-bring-your-own-media-byom-on-amazon-rds-custom-for-sql-server/).

How to activate License Free passive secondary failover instance of SQL Server 2019/2022 in AWS RDS for Custom?

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