SQL + Win Server Licensing in a TEST ONLY lab environment??

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SQL + Win Server Licensing in a TEST ONLY lab environment??

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Posted Tuesday, November 03, 2009 7:12 AM

Forum Newbie

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I just took a job as a SQL DBA at a very large enterprise. Things are NOT done here like I am used to!

The way they have me deploy changes to live production SQL servers is to develop and test my changes on live production SQL servers. Yes, that's really how its done.

And I know what will happen soon: I will deploy something that will break or destroy something (it is inevitable!), and then I will get blamed for not knowing what I'm doing. It feels like I am playing Russian Roulette on a daily basis. Not good for the 'ol stress level!

So here is my fix: I have now gotten them to give me FIVE clunker old computers, good enough to install Windows Server 2003 and SQL Server 2000 or 2005. So I can set up my own little test lab in my cubicle. This way I can at least build a reasonable facsimile of the production environments (yes, some are even clusters, etc), backup and restore databases to my test environment, and do *some* development and testing on them in my lab, before deploying to a production server.

So I have downloaded the 6-month trial versions of Win Server and SQL Server. I will NOT (and cannot) connect these computers to the network, and therefore not to the internet either. I have to download on one computer, burn files to disk, then move that disk to the Lab computers (sneakernet!). This will be a fully self-contained lab, the computers will only talk to each other via a hub. That's it.

So my question is: What licensing, if any, do I need to be fully, totally, legitimately legal and in compliance with Microsoft? (Yes, you would think I could just ask my Microsoft Rep that question. But I have no idea who that person might be or how I would get in touch, or anything.)

Perhaps I could just install my 6-month demo versions of everything? Then I think I will have to activate over the phone, right? But then will I have to activate all TEN licenses separately? (5 Win Server 2003 and 5 SQL 2000 or 2005??) Or does only Windows Server require activation and not SQL? (I'm used to working on real versions!) Do my TWO downloads allow 5 activations each?? Or do I have to do 10 downloads?? If I install today, would I need to re-install 6 months from now? Or is that even permitted -- do I just get one 6-month period then I have to have them pay for some sort of "Lab license"?? Or is there a license that actually allows this Test Lab type scenario, and does not require re-installs, or new demo licenses every 6 months or whatever??

It seems like the possibilities are endless. Does anyone know?

Thank you very much for your help!

Post #812906

Posted Friday, November 06, 2009 1:54 PM

SSC-Enthusiastic

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i can't answer the whole post. but if you're building clusters, remember you'll need a domain controller setup..

i recently built a sql cluster for practice but couldn't join the network and had to build a domain controller just to get mscs working.

also, see if you can get some copies of SQL Developer installed.. you can get those fairly cheap. Heres some info on Developer edition

http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2005/en/us/developer.aspx

--------------------------

I long for a job where my databases dont have any pesky users accessing them :)

Post #815187

Posted Friday, November 06, 2009 2:03 PM

Ten Centuries

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See if your company will swing for an MSDN subscription.

That will entitle you (and only you) to install and use as many copies of the software included in your subscription and on as many computers as you need (there are different subscription levels giving you more/less software), as long as it is solely for development and/or testing.

Post #815194

Posted Friday, November 06, 2009 2:31 PM

SSChampion

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Ian Scarlett (11/6/2009)

See if your company will swing for an MSDN subscription.

That will entitle you (and only you) to install and use as many copies of the software included in your subscription and on as many computers as you need (there are different subscription levels giving you more/less software), as long as it is solely for development and/or testing.

I thought there was a limit of 10 systems (computers).

Cool

Cool

Lynn Pettis

For better assistance in answering your questions, click here
For tips to get better help with Performance Problems, click here
For Running Totals and its variations, click here or when working with partitioned tables
For more about Tally Tables, click here
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Managing Transaction Logs

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Post #815199

Posted Friday, November 06, 2009 2:50 PM

SSCertifiable

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Company MSDN subscription or get your own TechNet subscription. Either one will allow you to do what you're doing.

If they won't go for that, then get them to get copies of Dev Edition of SQL, and they'll have to pay for Windows licenses. Dev Edition is just like Enterprise/Trial in terms of features, but unlike the trial version, it doesn't expire.

- GSquared

"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everyone agrees it's old enough to know better." - Anon

Post #815205

Posted Friday, November 06, 2009 3:16 PM

Ten Centuries

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Lynn Pettis (11/6/2009)

I thought there was a limit of 10 systems (computers).

I don't think there is, Lynn... this is from the MSDN site

MSDN subscriptions are licensed on a per-user basis. One person can use the software to design, develop, test, or demonstrate his or her programs on any number of devices. Each person who uses the software this way needs a license

Are you perhaps thinking of the Direct Access subscription, which, for some software, allows only 10 installations?

Post #815214

Posted Friday, November 06, 2009 3:27 PM

Ten Centuries

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GSquared (11/6/2009)

Company MSDN subscription or get your own TechNet subscription. Either one will allow you to do what you're doing.

I don't think Technet will allow the OP to do what he/she wants, as it specifically excludes testing.
This is the link to the UK page comparing MSDN and Technet Plus... I doubt the US rules will be any different.

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/subscriptions/dd362338.aspx

Post #815217

Posted Friday, November 06, 2009 3:30 PM

SSChampion

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Ian Scarlett (11/6/2009)

Lynn Pettis (11/6/2009)

I thought there was a limit of 10 systems (computers).

I don't think there is, Lynn... this is from the MSDN site

MSDN subscriptions are licensed on a per-user basis. One person can use the software to design, develop, test, or demonstrate his or her programs on any number of devices. Each person who uses the software this way needs a license

Are you perhaps thinking of the Direct Access subscription, which, for some software, allows only 10 installations?

Could be. It has been a quite a while (5 years or more) since I looked into it. But for some reason the 10 system limit is just stuck in my head.

Cool

Cool

Lynn Pettis

For better assistance in answering your questions, click here
For tips to get better help with Performance Problems, click here
For Running Totals and its variations, click here or when working with partitioned tables
For more about Tally Tables, click here
For more about Cross Tabs and Pivots, click here and here
Managing Transaction Logs

SQL Musings from the Desert Fountain Valley SQL (My Mirror Blog)

Post #815218

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