How long is the grace period on SBS 2008 (how long can you evaluate SBS 2008 without entering a product key)

David Overton — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 07:18:09 GMT

I saw this one come up internally and externally, so I thought I would share the answer. Remember that SBS 2008 is built on Windows Server 2008, Exchange 2007 and SQL 2008 (for the premium edition). This means that you are bound by the limits of those products. For SBS Standard this is Windows Server 2008, which is 60 days that can be extended to up to 240 days using the rearm process documented in the KB article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472. SQL2008 has a trial period of 180 days, so if your evaluating SBS 2008 Premium edition you are limited by that.

ttfn

David

Technorati Tags: SQL 2008,Windows Server 2008,SBS 2008,SBSC,Partners,Microsoft,Eval,Evaluation,Trial

MSDN Evaluation Center for Office system, Biztalk, SQL Server 2005/2008 and Windows Server 2008

David Overton — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:18:59 GMT

I just found the MSDN Evaluation Center online today to give you evaluation resources that you might develop against. These include BizTalk Server, Office Communication Server, Office Enterprise , SharePoint Server, SharePoint Designer, SQL Server 2005, 2008, Express 2005 SP2, Windows Server 2008. I've pasted much of the content, but all the download links etc are country specific, so I have removed those. Click on the link above to get to download this stuff!

MSDN Evaluation Centre

Welcome to the MSDN Evaluation Centre, the central location for all Microsoft developer product trials and beta evaluations. Try a product before you buy it or test the latest beta to see what is in store for the next release. Start at the beginning of the evaluation process and follow the new products as they go through to the final releases. Remember to check back often as new products will be added as they become available.

As you evaluate your software, we'll provide you with comprehensive and relevant insights and information delivered to your inbox. Resources like:

Webcasts | Virtual Labs | Community insight | White papers| E-Learning | Events

Featured Evaluations

BizTalk Server

BizTalk 2006 R2

Regardless of the size of your organization, you need best-in class infrastructure. BizTalk Server 2006 R2 delivers enterprise-class infrastructure that enables you to connect .NET applications and infrastructure with your non .NET applications and platforms, as well as those of your partners.

Office system

Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007

Microsoft’s unified communications platform enables developers to efficiently build secure, productivity enhancing applications on top of an extensible software foundation.

Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007

Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 provides a comprehensive suite of applications that developers can extend to deliver solutions that make data and processes more accessible and relevant to users. With Office Enterprise 2007 you can build solutions that give users the power to collaborate with others regardless of their location, collect and store virtually any type of information in one place, quickly find and manage needed content, and easily share and update information.

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 is an integrated suite of server capabilities that supports all intranet, extranet, and Web applications across an enterprise within one integrated platform. This collaboration and content management server provides IT professionals and developers with the platform and tools they need for server administration, application extensibility, and interoperability.

Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007

Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007 is designed to help you create and customize Web sites and workflows built with SharePoint Products and Technologies (Microsoft Windows® SharePoint Services and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007). It provides all the tools that IT professionals and solution creators need to develop SharePoint-based sophisticated composite applications and workflow solutions that enhance organizational agility and business process automation.

SQL Server

SQL Server 2008

SQL Server 2008, the next release of Microsoft SQL Server, will provide a comprehensive data platform that is more secure, reliable, manageable and scalable for your mission critical applications, while enabling developers to create new applications that can store and consume any type of data on any device, and enabling all your users to make informed decisions with relevant insights.

SQL Server 2005 Enterprise

Download or order the SQL Server 2005 180-day Trial Software. Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is a data management and analysis solution that enables companies of all sizes to gain greater insight from their business information, apply that insight to enhance their decision-making process, and achieve faster business results for a competitive advantage.

SQL Server Express Edition SP2

Download SQL Server Express Edition SP2, SQL Server Express with Advanced Services SP2, or tools to help manage SQL Server Express.

Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate

Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate provides developers with the most secure, flexible and connected web and applications platform, reducing the time to craft high-performing, standards-compliant applications and make network services available remotely.