SQL 2005 Enterprise Evaluation on Production Server?

Question

SQL 2005 Enterprise Evaluation on Production Server?

Pieter Groenewoud-396384

Newbie

Points: 9
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April 11, 2007 at 10:18 am

#171976

Hi All,
I am currently configuring a production server running enterprise evaluation. The company has not yet purchased the license key, and we are rolling over to production for monday.
I was not too happy about the production server running evaluation software and said so.
Question: I am being pedantic in stating that you do not run evaluation software on a production server? I could not find any restrictions, be it user connections or anything else for that matter. So cannot realy bring a well put argument to the table.
Would be nice to here any comments.

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

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Lynn Pettis SSC Guru Points: 442467 More actions · Answer 1

Is your company in the process of purchasing SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition? The evaluation copy is the Enterprise Edition that expires after 120 or 180 days, depending on how you got it. Personally, I think it is not appropriate to run an evaluation version in a production environment.

In addition, in this case, if you only purchase the Standard Edition down the road, you may find yourself in a difficult position if you started using features not available in Standard Edition.

I am sure there are others out there who have opinions on this as well, and I am also interested in those as well.

Bulent Gucuk SSCertifiable Points: 5498 More actions · Answer 2

Lynn is absolutely right. There are features no available to Standard Edition. And I maybe wrong but Evalution Edition can only be ugraded to Enterprise Edition. So if you end up with Standard edition you may have to unistall Evalution Edition and install Standard Edition even if you have not run out the evalution period yet. You should confirm this since I am not 100% sure.

Good day

Bulent

Simon Facer SSCertifiable Points: 5427 More actions · Answer 3

Another point is that you won't get support from MS if you have any problems. In file 'License_EVAL_ENU.txt' (on my box, in folder 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\EULA'), it states:

1. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.

a. Installation and Use.

* You may install and use any number of copies of the software on your devices. You may use the software only to demonstrate and internally evaluate it.

* You may not use the software in a live operating environment unless Microsoft permits you to do so under another agreement.

so, you would be breaking the EULA.