Hi,
this is going to be a rambling inquiry. I have been trying the evaluation edition of SQL Server 2000 which is basically the enterprise edition. I now have the budget to purchase the standard edition. My questions are:
1. Is there any way to find out when the evaluation edition expires -- I know it says 120 days -- but I first installed it in April and then I had to completely rebuilt my system in June, so I am not sure whether 120 days will count from April or June.
2. I will be using the standard edition as a database backend in a stand alone server for an ecommerce application -- nothing else will connect to the sql server other than the asp.net application when it calls the database for my dynamic pages' data. The basic standard edition comes with 5 Cals. Will I run into connection limitations to the sql server database when my asp.net web application calls the database? Does 5 CAL mean that only five users can access my web page at any given time?
3. I think I will have to unistall the evaluation enterprise edition before I can install a licensed copy of the standard edition. What would be a better way to move the databases that I have built in the evaluation version to the licensed copy of the standard edition that I plan to install?
Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Hi there,

1) It should be then considering from June, as the system was rebuilt.

2) CAL refers to Clien Access License.
Read this - Comparison - SQL Server 2000
This link might help you in a way, though it has deadlinks at the bottom of page.Choosing the Right SQL Server 2000 Edition

3) I think just a backup of database from evaluation version and restore to the licensed copy would work (for the same edition).
Not sure how the implications are for different editions.

Hope that helps.
Cheers!

_________________________
- Vijay G
Strive for Perfection

Thanks very much Vijay -- I did try the backup and restore method immediately after I had posted this query last night. It seems to be working. However, you did raise an important issue to consider regarding the difference in editions when I will change to the standard edition.
Thanks. Much appreciated. Shailesh.

Hi Vijay:
Just a little inquiry: Are you sure: if the system was completely reformatted & rebuilt in June then 120 days will start from June and not when the Sql server was first installed in April?
Will this not make it easier for those who just do not want to buy the software and keep using the trial edition after uninstalling & reinstalling it?
Or may be just uninstalling & reinstalling the sql server will not work -- it will work only if the system is completely rebuilt.

Hi Shailesh,

I think so. I am not very sure about that. Coz, I haven't used an evaluation edition so far. As you were still be able to use that after rebuilt the system in june(date you started this topic - Aug 9th), you would still be able to use that without any problem. Going by that, I would say "it considers from June".

Your point may be right, but how many times one would rebuild the system again and again just for sake of not buying the software? I am not sure what to comment on this, as I haven't really tried that out yet. May be, just for not buying it, one can change the system time always to something less than 120 days from date of installation. That should be an easier way of keeping it alive. But there is no use of date field used in the database.

To check when your evaluation edition would expire, try changing the system date something greater than 120 days from June, and see how it behaves. But I am not sure if that works again once you revert it back to current date.

_________________________
- Vijay G
Strive for Perfection

Hi Vijay:
Thanks for the reply & happy independence day, although it is painful to hear about all those bomb blasts in Assam.
I am going to put in a licensed sql server. However, Microsoft says something different now than they did before regarding the kind of licensing I would need. First they said a standard edition with 5 cals is good enough for what I am looking to do -- a backend database server for an ecommerce application. we do not have any other machine on the same LAN.
But now they say I will need a processor license instead of cals because there will be unlimited users from the internet. I tried telling them that it really shouldn't matter because the application calls the sql server only through one or two accounts at the most -- the NT Authority\Network Service and the local ASP.NET accounts.

But they still insisted that I will need the processor license. I am confused because a microsoft vendor here in US said I do not need the processor license but standard cals. I think I will probably go by what microsoft says. The price difference between the licenses is about $4000.00 so I may just have to wait till I have some more money.

Thanks. Shailesh.

Hi Shailesh, Thanks for the wishes.

Maybe, you can rebuild the system/change the date to a older one, till then;)

Cheers!

_________________________
- Vijay G
Strive for Perfection