Can SQL Server Developer Edition & Report Servre be used for creating reports with an archived copy of prod database?

Question

No users will access the data, only an administrator will run reports from the archived data. Is a license necessary?

Answer 1

First of all, this is a technical forum, monitored by techies.

You are asking a legal question, and get an authoritative answer, you need to talk with a license specialist. You can start with your local Microsoft office.

What I will give you is a layman's answer, and you may prefer to take it as such. However, this is one of the few license questions, that I feel I can answer with confidence. My answer is a big NO, YOU CAN'T! It does not matter if plain users or sysadmin access the server. If it is for production purposes - and it sure sounds like that - you cannot use Developer Edition. Developer Edition is not licensed for any form of production use.

Answer 2

Hi @Hawk, Crystal ,

SQL Server Developer edition is licensed for use as a development and test system, not as a production server.

When you install SQL Server Developer Edition, the license terms are copied to a location like:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\150\License Terms\SQLServer2019_License_DEV_1033.rtf

The license states, in relevant part:

1. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
   a. General. You may install and use copies of the software on any device, including third party shared devices, to design, develop, test and demonstrate your programs. You may not use the software in a production environment.
   b. Demonstration. Any person that has access to your internal network may install and use copies of the software to demonstrate use of your programs with the software. Those copies may not be used for any other purpose.
   c. User Testing. Your end users may access the software to perform acceptance tests on your programs.

By the way, SQL server general tag that talking about SQL server Tech issues. For SQL server license question, suggest you consult professionals in this area. please 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. People there will help you more effectively.

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