Licensing by the CPU or by the User

SQL Server is licensed in two ways: either by the number of CPUs in the database server, or by the number of users that connect to it (also known as Client Access Licenses, or CALs). To work out which method is best for you, multiply the costs out, but make sure to include your future number of users and CPUs. You may see a benefit to picking a different method just a few months down the line, but it'll be too late at that point to change easily.

How Can I Get SQL Server Free?

There's two free versions of SQL Server you can download right now: SQL Server Compact Edition and SQL Server Express Edition. They're both completely free, no hacks or serial numbers required.

The catch is that they're not quite as full-featured as the paid versions of SQL Server. They're targeted at developers who need to bundle SQL Server inside their applications to store data.

SQL Server 2005 Cracks and Serial Numbers

There's no such thing: the Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and 2005 installation files do not require a serial number or activation code. You simply install it.

This has pros and cons: this makes it easy to get SQL Server up and running, but that's a problem for systems administrators who need to track their licensing. SQL Server sprawl becomes an issue: database servers pop up all over the network because anybody can install it and start using it for free.

Starting with SQL Server 2008, a valid activation key is required in order to install SQL Server. If you don't input a valid key, you can choose to install a time-limited evaluation version.