Sql Server Developer License question

Question

Hello all.

I should install a SQL server instance to use as a test environment for another regularly licensed SQL instance.

We would like to use the Developer license, which should serve this purpose.

However, a consultant claims that it is not possible, as the VM used for this purpose is located on the same virtualization infrastructure where the Production one also resides.

In the official licensing document it does not seem to me that this constraint is mentioned.

https://download.microsoft.com/download/6/6/0/66078040-86d8-4f6e-b0c5-e9919bbcb537/SQL%20Server%202019%20Licensing%20guide.pdf

Do you find something like this?

Answer 1

Hi @Andrea Rinaldi ,

When you install SQL Server Developer Edition, the license terms are copied to a location like:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\150\License Terms\SQLServer2019_License_DEV_1033.rtf

The license states, in relevant part:

1. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.

a. General. You may install and use copies of the software on any device, including third party shared devices, to design, develop, test and demonstrate your programs. You may not use the software in a production environment.

b. Demonstration. Any person that has access to your internal network may install and use copies of the software to demonstrate use of your programs with the software. Those copies may not be used for any other purpose.

c. User Testing. Your end users may access the software to perform acceptance tests on your programs.

For the constraint of VM that SQL developer install, I have never heard of this constraint. But for License issue, I suggest that you can consult professionals in this area. please call 1-800-426-9400, Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. (Pacific Time) to speak directly to a Microsoft licensing specialist. Or you can go to Volume Licensing Service Center support. Please choose region/language and choose to call or have web. People there will help you more effectively. They will give you a confirm answer.

Hope this could help you.

Best regards,
Cathy

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Answer 2

Good day,

I just want to add to previous answer and especially the response Cathyji-msft gave which is the answer to this thread IMO - meaning, you should contact Microsoft licensing team.

With that being said, as I see and know, virtual machine are commonly created for test, developing and developing and these are fits for using developing license (again, conform it with Microsoft licensing team). In fact, your consultant claims that it is not possible make no sense to me as in most cases people host virtual machine in external environment and their VM is isolated from the other VM hosted in the same machine. You have no way to know what other client do with their VM.

Using SQL Server on Virtual Machine has some variety of virtualization and cloud rules, which are mentioned in the license like but you can license individual virtual machines (VM). Moreover, when you are licensing a VM per core then only the virtual cores assigned to the VM are counted. It is well documented. Note that there is also an option to license the physical cores on the server and deploying an unlimited number of VMs on the licensed hardware.

For more information you can check the FAQ section in the following document:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing/product-licensing/sql-server

As you can notice, even experts who use SQL Server for many years might have conflict regarding licenses. Again, your best option is to contact Microsoft licensing team if you are not sure. Licenses are not in the expertise of DBA but law's experts (lawyers for example).

Answer 3

That is certainly not a condition that seems familiar to me, so I would be inclined to question your consultant.

Then again, I am techie, and this is techie forum, and this is a legal question, and I have not read the licensing guide myself. But maybe you could stick the licensing guide under the nose of the consultant and ask him to give chapter and verse?

Answer 4

Thanks to all.
I was quite sure that was possible, but i searched for a confirmation.

Andrea

Answer 5

For detailed information about the license issue, please call 1-800-426-9400, Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. (Pacific Time) to speak directly to a Microsoft licensing specialist. For international customers, please use the https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing/worldwide to find contact information in your locations.