October 7, 2011 at 11:03 am
I am so frustrated about the license question.
We are planning to upgrade a sql server 2005 production box to 2008 production box.
We would like to do it on a testing server first to see if the application works or not.
We for sure needs to buy a license for the production for upgrade, we don't have software assurance.
But for the testing, do we need to buy a license?
It will only used for testing purpose for a couple of testers?
Thanks
October 7, 2011 at 11:06 am
For a test server (non production) you can purchase the Developer Edition for about $50.
If the testers are not changing anything in the database, just running the application to ensure it works, they don't need a license. Any one making changes to database objust would, but at $50, that isn't too expensive.
Oh, and that is list price, you may find it cheaper if you look.
October 7, 2011 at 11:27 am
Licensing is a bit of a train wreck. I think Lynn's idea of developer edition makes sense. If you have licenses for it, and you might if you have MSDN, TechNet, etc. you can install that and test. If all your people have licenses, you can install as many instances as you want, not limited by people/devices. Only as long as each person is licensed.
October 7, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Oh, yes, the licensing is quite confusing! :crazy:
I had to research this at work, too, for an upgrade to 2008 R2. In addition to the excellent suggestions about using the Developer edition (or any edition if you have an MSDN license), I also found that the Enterprise Edition of SQL Server allows you to install the software on four operating system environments (virtual or physical).
I don't know the reason for it, but I think that makes the Enterprise Edition of SQL Server extremely economical. (One license of the Standard Edition allows you to install the software on only one operation system environment.)
See the SQL 2008 R2 Licensing Quick Reference for details:
http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/en/us/get-sql-server/how-to-buy.aspx
October 7, 2011 at 12:43 pm
I also found that the Enterprise Edition of SQL Server allows you to install the software on four operating system environments (virtual or physical).
I don't know the reason for it, but I think that makes the Enterprise Edition of SQL Server extremely economical. (One license of the Standard Edition allows you to install the software on only one operation system environment.)
So you mean one license onf Enterprise edition can be intalled on 4 operation system?
October 7, 2011 at 12:54 pm
So you mean one license onf Enterprise edition can be intalled on 4 operation system?
That is inded the way I read it. If you download the PDF Licensing Quick Reference, the section of interest is on page 6 in the section, Licensing Virtual Machines Under the Server/CAL Model.
If I had to guess, I would say that this is Microsoft's way of dealing with the proliferation of virtual servers. Plus, the Enterprise Edition is often used by customers who need some kind of horizontal scale-out solution. Simply allowing the customer to install the Enterprise Edition on four machines allows them the flexibility they need.
For example, we have the database engine and SSIS on one server, SSRS on another server and SSAS on a 3rd server. This licensing model allows us to scale out in this way without breaking the bank. Given all the cool features you get with the Enterprise Edition, I think this licensing model makes it a great bargain. 😎
October 7, 2011 at 1:16 pm
I don't think that means you can install the same licensed version on 4 physical machines. I think it means you can install the copy on virtual systems residing on the same physical machine.
October 7, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Lynn Pettis (10/7/2011)
I don't think that means you can install the same licensed version on 4 physical machines. I think it means you can install the copy on virtual systems residing on the same physical machine.
Yes, that's my understanding too, it only applied to virtual system, but not physical.
So I think it can be installed on 4 virtual operatiing systems on the same physical box.
October 7, 2011 at 1:25 pm
Lynn Pettis (10/7/2011)
I don't think that means you can install the same licensed version on 4 physical machines. I think it means you can install the copy on virtual systems residing on the same physical machine.
We went back and forth on this question, too. The exact wording in the Microsoft document is "Each Server License for SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise permits you to run the software in up to four (4) Operating System Environments (physical and/or virtual).
Compare this to the wording for the standard edition: "Each Server License for SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard or Workgroup permits you to run the software in one (1) Operating System Environment (physical or virtual). Additional Operating System Environments require one (1) Server License each.
I know licensing of SQL Server on virtual servers has been a (very) vexed question in the past. This seems to simplify it greatly.
I'd love to hear what everyone else has to say about this. 😎
October 7, 2011 at 1:26 pm
The Trial Edition of SQL Server 2008 is free, works for 6 months, and is the same as Enterprise/Developer Edition in terms of features.
You can use that for evaluating the upgrade.
The only problem with Dev or Trial is that you can't set them to "emulate" Standard Edition, so if you accidentally start using an Enterprise-only feature, you won't know it till you try to deploy to Standard.
That's not likely to be a problem in your scenario, but it is definitely a major weakness in Dev Edition, which is meant to be used to build and test database solutions, but can't be counted on to deploy correctly to Standard Edition. Probably not applicable for what you're doing, just a caveate to keep in mind.
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October 7, 2011 at 1:30 pm
We cannot use trial version of Enterprise, is because once the test server is upgraded, we want to keep using it, the developer will use it as a testing server for their developed applications, once it is tested, it will deploy to production, so it's a on-going usage of the testing server. We develop our own applications.
October 7, 2011 at 1:38 pm
dmoutray (10/7/2011)
Lynn Pettis (10/7/2011)
I don't think that means you can install the same licensed version on 4 physical machines. I think it means you can install the copy on virtual systems residing on the same physical machine.We went back and forth on this question, too. The exact wording in the Microsoft document is "Each Server License for SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise permits you to run the software in up to four (4) Operating System Environments (physical and/or virtual).
Compare this to the wording for the standard edition: "Each Server License for SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard or Workgroup permits you to run the software in one (1) Operating System Environment (physical or virtual). Additional Operating System Environments require one (1) Server License each.
I know licensing of SQL Server on virtual servers has been a (very) vexed question in the past. This seems to simplify it greatly.
I'd love to hear what everyone else has to say about this. 😎
I would not chance installing the same licensed version of SQL Server 2008 R2 on multiple physical servers based on what is in the EULA/FAQ. I would contact Microsoft for the definitive answer on how this should be interpreted.
October 7, 2011 at 1:39 pm
sqlfriends (10/7/2011)
We cannot use trial version of Enterprise, is because once the test server is upgraded, we want to keep using it, the developer will use it as a testing server for their developed applications, once it is tested, it will deploy to production, so it's a on-going usage of the testing server. We develop our own applications.
I believe that if you get a license for SQL Server 2008 R2 (either a new license or as a part of a Software Assurance agreement), you are permitted to run the new database management system in parallel with the old database management system (e.g. SQL 2005) for 60 days in order to test the new installation. After 60 days, you are supposed to decommission one of them (or buy another license).
October 7, 2011 at 1:40 pm
dmoutray (10/7/2011)
sqlfriends (10/7/2011)
We cannot use trial version of Enterprise, is because once the test server is upgraded, we want to keep using it, the developer will use it as a testing server for their developed applications, once it is tested, it will deploy to production, so it's a on-going usage of the testing server. We develop our own applications.I believe that if you get a license for SQL Server 2008 R2 (either a new license or as a part of a Software Assurance agreement), you are permitted to run the new database management system in parallel with the old database management system (e.g. SQL 2005) for 60 days in order to test the new installation. After 60 days, you are supposed to decommission one of them (or buy another license).
Again, check with Microsoft to be sure.
October 7, 2011 at 2:00 pm
The second point (on doing a side-by-side upgrade) is from the SQL Server 2008 R2 Upgrade Technical Reference Guide, page 98.
"Licensing Note: if you install SQL Server 2008 R2 on a separate computer or as a separate instance on the same computer as a part of the upgrade to SQL Server 2008 R2, you have 60 days to complete the upgrade from the earlier version (by removing the earlier version) before you are out of licensing compliance."
I agree with Lynn, check with Microsoft, but the licensing model in SQL 2008 R2 has changed substantially from that used in SQL 2005 and SQL 2008.
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