Developer edition is basiclly Enterprise which can be installed on XP Pro SP2 (has a few limits like memory and CPU. And of course limited on the license to development / test environments). Express is a cut down version of SQL Server. Like MSDB was for 2000. If you install Developer you don't need Express, on my machine at work I have 2000, Express and 2005 but thats because VS 2005 installed express for me.

• Sql Server Compact Edition 4.0

Should really turn off the service, but i keep forgetting. Even tho Developer edition isn't listed on the site, keep in mine it is closer to Enterprise than any of the others. Hope this helps. All replies were right, and i add these from microsoft website.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is free to download, has no time limits, and is freely redistributable (with registration). With a database size limit of 4 gigabytes (GB) and support for 1 CPU and up to 1 GB of RAM, SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is suitable for application embedding or lightweight application development. You can download the Express Edition and register for distribution rights, for more information please goto below.

To my understanding, the MS SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition has all the same features as the very expensive and fully featured SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition, but is to be used by developers to test their software. Are there any limitations to the Developer Edition?

What keeps a user from the not using the Developer Edition instead of the Enterprise Edition besides the fact that it might be morally wrong? Does Microsoft have limitations in place or ways of telling if it the Developer Edition is being used for commercial purposes? What do you mean do I wan to shoot myself in the foot for limitations? I want to know what the limitations are, and what prevents it from being used commerically besides the fact that Microsoft states that its legally wrong to use commerically. Are their any software limits in place to test such a thing? I have a billing system I want to test out that will have many users login, and will have a bigger database than what the express edition allows. I want to test it out on the Developer edition before I by the enterprise, and want to make sure its up to speed, so I need to know the limitations.

Thank you, Kyle. Hi, Has anyone tried an in-place upgrade from SQL Server 2005 Developer to Standard Edition? It apears to be a valid upgrade path according to this: Is it just a case of changing the registered licensing info? (I presume all the functionality for Standard exists in the Developer Edition) Or is it a reinstall job?

I want to use a dev license for development on the server, then once its finished, just leave it in place on the box and upgrade the licensing to standard edition. (The client doesn't yet have a Standard License, but does have a Dev License - and wants me to start right away!) If its going to boil down to having to do a full re-installation then I should get a Standard license from the start, if its just a minor license key change, then I can use a Dev license straight away!

I work with a firm that has a product that runs on Access FE (forms/reports) and SQL 2000/2005 BE (sp's, views, tables), and am still in the learning process on the SQL side. I don't dare ask if they will let me install their license on my machine, but considering to ask if I can install their Developer 2005 version. They are a 'Microsoft Partner'. I think Express is out of the question, as it doesn't contain the bells and whistles that are in Standard+ editions.

As I understand it, the Developer's version is just like Enterprise with the limitation of only 1 CAL. Trio windows tablet drivers. Does that mean only 1 concurrent user or only 1 user - can it have multiple user IDs in the user list, and allows only 1 user to be connected to the server at a time? The BE databases I wish to learn from and troubleshoot-while-learning will have 1 to many users defined. Perhaps 1-CPU is another limitation?

Which is no biggy, as I am not looking for 'production server' speed. In short, I'm looking for the edition that will be as close of match to the Enterprise Edition, but for use by me alone. Still having the ability to generate objects as in Enterprise, and execute same on the Enterprise edition. If the Developer Edition meets my requirements, the price is so good I'll buy it myself if my firm won't let me install it - they should, as I would only be using it for their product.

Sql Server Compact Edition 4.0

Thanks for reading, and any additional comments/information will be very welcomed.