I have an azure virtual machine running SQL server 2017 Express on windows server 2016 data center. Now I want to upgrade to the standard edition, where can I buy a license?

Hi Tung, Welcome to Q&A Forum; this is a great place to get support, answers, and tips. Thank you for posting your question; I'll be more than glad to help you out. As you are already on Azure, of course, you can buy a license wherever you want (there are a lot of license shops out there), but I would recommend deploying a new Azure VM with SQL Server configuration and a SQL Server installed. In this way, you can benefit from the optimal configuration of a SQL Server and the attached license. You only pay for those licenses when your VM is up and running... and if you remove your VM you automatically stoped paying for those licenses. This might be an option for you. I hope my answer is helpful to you, Your Bjoern Peters If the reply was helpful, please upvote and/or accept it as an answer, as this helps others in the community with similar questions. Thanks!

HI , You can refer to the Volume Licensing portal to get appropriate licensed Version for your SQL deployments

Where can I buy license SQL server 2017 Standard

Accepted answer

Bjoern Peters 8,781 Reputation points

2023-03-27T10:53:56.0166667+00:00

Hi Tung,

Welcome to Q&A Forum; this is a great place to get support, answers, and tips.

Thank you for posting your question; I'll be more than glad to help you out.

As you are already on Azure, of course, you can buy a license wherever you want (there are a lot of license shops out there), but I would recommend deploying a new Azure VM with SQL Server configuration and a SQL Server installed. In this way, you can benefit from the optimal configuration of a SQL Server and the attached license. You only pay for those licenses when your VM is up and running... and if you remove your VM you automatically stoped paying for those licenses.

This might be an option for you.

I hope my answer is helpful to you,

Your

Bjoern Peters

If the reply was helpful, please upvote and/or accept it as an answer, as this helps others in the community with similar questions. Thanks!
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Tung Nguyen 40 Reputation points

2023-03-27T11:19:34.0733333+00:00

This VM is already in use, so I want to change the edition by entering the key

That's why I asked where I can buy the license

Bjoern Peters 8,781 Reputation points

2023-03-27T12:13:59.27+00:00

I understand your request, but I just wanted to tell you that a different approach may save you money in the long term.

Buying a license might depend on your process, your location, the location of your company, and even a contractual point of view (with Microsoft)

For e.g., if you are in the US, you might find a licensed provider like

https://royaldiscount.com/product-category/products/microsoft-2/sql-server/

https://www.cdw.com/product/microsoft-sql-server-standard-edition-license-1-server/3446589

(I don't know anything about them, nor do I have any financial benefits from posting these company names, they were just at the top of the list)

I also found some valid licenses offered at Amazon...

Or maybe, you have a CSP partner; ask them...

Tung Nguyen 40 Reputation points

2023-03-27T13:36:19.3633333+00:00

thanks Bjoern Peters, if I do like this I get the warning like in the picture, any advice for me

Tung Nguyen 40 Reputation points

2023-03-27T13:37:32.29+00:00

thanks Bjoern Peters, if I do like this I get the warning like in the picture, any advice for me?

Bjoern Peters 8,781 Reputation points

2023-03-27T15:09:55.4833333+00:00

Switching from Express to Standard is a "massive" change, and you must provide a license code... you have to run the setup with the option to upgrade your edition as described:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/database-engine/install-windows/upgrade-to-a-different-edition-of-sql-server-setup?view=sql-server-ver16

basically run the setup and choose "Upgrade edition"
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Where can I buy license SQL server 2017 Standard

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