SQL server licenses/prizes (on dedicated web server)

Answer 1

SQL server is licensed in 3 ways:

• Server plus user CAL (Client Access Licence)
• Server plus Device CAL (Client Access Licence)
• per CPU

I am guessing that your web site is going to be accessed by users who are not employed in your company (it is not an internal web site). Then you need a per CPU licence.

Answer 2

There are two separate issues. First is the product you have. Second is the license.

Products:

1. SQL Express (free)
2. SQL Developer (under US$50)
3. SQL Workgroup
4. SQL Standard
5. SQL Enterprise

The products vary by features, including things like the maximum size database they support.

Next is licensing:

1. CAL (user or device)
2. per-CPU
3. Free (only for SQL Express)
4. Single developer (only for SQL Developer)

You can use SQL Express in a public-facing web site for free. The other products all require per-CPU licenses in that scenario. CAL licensing is appropriate when the number of users is small, well-known, and limited -- such as Intranet apps.

You can't ever use SQL Developer in a live application; it's licensed for a single developer only.