Overview
This article explains why SQL Server Express is being "upgraded" to SQL Server Standard in license reports under the Services Provider License Agreement (SPLA) and clarifies the compliance requirements for using SQL Server Express in commercial or hosted environments.
Key points
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SQL Server Express Editions and SPLA Compliance
- SQL Server 2005, 2008, and 2008 R2 Express editions are not permitted for use in commercial or hosted environments, according to their Microsoft End User License Agreements (EULAs).
- As a result, to maintain SPLA compliance, the OC SPLA solution automatically counts these versions as SQL Server Standard.
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How to Avoid License Upgrading to SQL Server Standard
- To prevent SQL Server Express from being counted as SQL Server Standard, consider the following actions:
- Upgrade: Update SQL Server Express to version 2012 or higher.
- Uninstall: If SQL Server Express is no longer needed, uninstall it from the server.
- To prevent SQL Server Express from being counted as SQL Server Standard, consider the following actions:
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Further Reference
- For more details on SQL Server Express EULAs, download them using the following link: Microsoft SQL Server Express EULAs.
Conclusion
Using SQL Server Express editions 2005, 2008, or 2008 R2 in commercial or hosted environments is not permitted under their EULAs. To comply with SPLA requirements, upgrade to a supported version or remove SQL Server Express from the server if it is no longer needed.