SQL 2008 downgrade to 2005

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SQL 2008 downgrade to 2005

imSQrLy

Ten Centuries

Points: 1335
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September 17, 2009 at 6:01 am

#141749

I am being told by our purchasing dept. that they can no longer purchase sql 2005 from our only approved vendor. Lets just assume this is true. Can you purchase sql 2008 standard edition with 2 processor licenses and then downgrade to 2005 standard with 2 licenses? Someone from the vendor side told our purchasing people this is acceptable and doable.
Anybody ever heard of this?
Anybody have any links to any documentation surrounding downgrading?
Jimmy
"I'm still learning the things i thought i knew!"

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

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Jack Corbett SSC Guru Points: 184393 More actions · Answer 1

I don't have a link to documentation available, but yes this is allowed in the license agreement. Google for the SQL Server 2008 Licensing Guide and it is in there.

Jack Corbett
Consultant - Straight Path Solutions
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Sergey Vavinskiy SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4469 More actions · Answer 2

Exactly.

If you require SQL Server 2005 for existing solutions, you can still acquire additional licenses by taking advantage of the SQL Server 2008 "downgrade rights." The downgrade rights enable you to purchase server plus device CALs, server plus user CALs, or processor licenses for SQL Server 2008 and install and use the previous version for a reasonable period of time.

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 734552 More actions · Answer 3

Downgrade rights are here: http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/licensing-faq.aspx

imSQrLy Ten Centuries Points: 1335 More actions · Answer 4

Thanks,

I think i was getting stuck on the thought of physically installing sql 2008 and then downgrading it some how to sql 2005. I understand now that it is really that you simply purchase a 2008 license, but physically install 2005 using the 2008 licenses.

Thanks for the replies and clarification.

Jimmy

"I'm still learning the things i thought i knew!"

imSQrLy Ten Centuries Points: 1335 More actions · Answer 5

Also i wonder what this vague phrase means... "for a reasonable amount of time" under the How do I downgrade to SQL Server 2005? from the link Steve provided. See below.

If you require SQL Server 2005 for existing solutions, you can still acquire additional licenses by taking advantage of the SQL Server 2008 "downgrade rights." The downgrade rights enable you to purchase server plus device CALs, server plus user CALs, or processor licenses for SQL Server 2008 and install and use the previous version for a reasonable period of time.

Jimmy

"I'm still learning the things i thought i knew!"

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 734552 More actions · Answer 6

You don't downgrade the server. The license has downgrade rights. You just install a SQL Server 2005 instance from the SS2K5 media