asked
License for backup testing
I'm planning to set up a proper system to routinely test all our backups. I'd like to set up a server dedicated to this. Nobody would be connecting to the server and it wouldn't be executing queries for anyone. Just cycling through our backups, testing them and raising an alert if there's a problem. As far as I can understand from the licensing information I can find, this server could run on one of our spare MSDN licenses. (This is SQL 2012 for now but moving to 2014 soon.) What do you guys think, please? Do you know if I'm definitely right or definitely wrong?
I checked formally with Microsoft and the decision is that this is production - not test - functionality and therefore needs to be run on a properly licensed server. I could develop and test it on an MSDN license but after that it's production and needs a full license.
I'm pretty sure you're 100% correct. I'd still contact Microsoft, just to be sure.
Thanks, Grant. I've asked a question on the MSDN forum and to our software provider who claim to have licensing know-how. Is that what you meant or is there an official way to ask Microsoft directly?
Software provider I suppose, but there are usually local Microsoft resources that you can contact directly. Not sure where to look that up though.
Yep, just to echo the other answers/comments. If its licensing related, go to your registered Microsoft reseller and get them to give you the details in writing. If there is any dispute in the future you have proof that you followed advice from a licensing expert and not a bunch of goons on the internet. It's too expensive to get licensing wrong.
Thanks, it is starting to look that way. I've asked our reseller and will post what they say here. +1 LOL for 'bunch of goons on the internet', although I think that's a little harsh in this community.
Could be a new name for the site, instead of AskSQLServerCentral,
AskABunchOfGoons.com
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