Using Visual Studio licenses for test development on MS SQL Server

Question

Having a Visual Studio license enable me to develop on a non-licensed standard MS SQL Server/Enterprise instance? If so, can I promote the data being collected into this environment from a production line, into a licensed production MS SQL Server instance?

Answer 1

If you have an MSDN subscription, you can download Standard/Enterprise Edition from MSDN. But those instances are not licensed for production use, as I understand. And if you are collecting data on these instances that you later copy to production, that is production use in my book.

If all you have is a Visual Studio license, without MSDN, the answer is no.

Beware that this is a technical forum, and all answers you get related to licensing are layman answers. To get a authoritative answer, you need to contact a Microsoft licensing specialist.

Answer 2

Hi @Bob Lalone,

VS is only a visual tool for SQL Server. There are other tools as well. Using it in production requires a license from SQL Server.

Please refer to this: Editions and supported features of SQL Server 2022

For detailed information about the license issue, you can 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.

Best regards,

Seeya

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