Hi,

What a timely topic. Only yesterday I was reviewing licencing of SQL Server. I have many small clients (some of which only install SQL Server because our product requires it). A major issue of mine is to get these clients to upgrade (have clients still on SQL Standard 2000). All they see is that they have bought SQL Server (obviously several years ago) and now I am asking them to replace (not even upgrade) one working version with the new model for $5000+. Hard to get them to see the benefits (yes I tell them it faster etc) and to spend the money.

The databases (3 for each client) are from 100 MB to 20 GB (so not large with 5000000 rows in one of the tables). This table is also joined to other tables to return a report which can be quiet slow (30sec+) and partitioning of this table that SQL 2008 Enterprise allows would be fantastic for this as most of the queries only require information from the last few days/weeks.

I would really like to see a model where I could pay to run these small sites on a single or dual core and limited ram for a price that would entice my clients to upgrade.

SQL Express would nearly do the job for most of my small clients but I have found its performance is somehow "restricted" and does not return queried information as quickly as SQL Standard for whatever reason. Anyone got any comments on that issue?

Simplifying the licencing within a VM environment would also be appreciated.

Milton