SQL Server Licensing for TEST Instances

SQL Server Administration
1

HI experts,
Question 1: As far as I know a SQL Server license is NOT required for an instance that is used only or Test purposes. Is this still the case?

Question 2: A license is still required for (production) instances that have fallen out of support, correct?
Thanks

2

Correct on both, but for Question 1, you'd either use Developer Edition, which is free for non-production use, or Express Edition, which is free for all uses.

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3

Thanks @robert_volk. We have many Express instances but most of our instances used for testing/development are on the Standard Edition. Do these require a license?
Thanks for your time.

4

If they are truly only used for test/development and limited to developer access - then yes, the developer edition can be used.

But as stated in your other question - we cannot really answer licensing questions. You need to follow up with your MS representative and verify with them.

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5

Just make sure everyone's clear on what testing really means. From what I understand, you can't use it to restore backups and check them for corruption and that sort of thing, since that's considered a "production" use, even though you are "testing" backups.

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