SQL server CE licensing question

[Mike Margerum]

If i am using SQL server CE but I am not using SQL server replication do
i need a CAL? I will be transferring the data back and forth via custom
middleware and sockets that I have built.

thanks

 

[Ginny Caughey [MVP]]

Mike,

As I understand it, you still need a CAL for each device that connects to
SQL Server, even indirectly. If you have a lot of devices, per-processor
rather than per-device licensing might be a better deal.

 

[Mike Margerum]

thanks for clarifying. So can anyone recommend a free or low cost db
(no cals/royalties) that I can use on the pocket PC and access from C++?

 

[Alex Feinman [MVP]]

I think you misunderstood. Using SQL CE without replication or RDA is free.
What's not free is accessing the SQL server. No matter what you choose as
your device side storage, if you use a backend SQL Server (e.g. via a web
service), you need a CAL or a web server access license. If you data does
not come from a remote server, you can use SQL CE for free

 

[Mike Margerum]

just so i understand completely lets take CE out of the picture
altogether and say I have built a piece of middleware that only uses one
DB connection to SQL server but can serve more than 1 PC via queuing, I
would have to have a CAL for each device that connects to my middleware?

 

[Doug Forster]

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/howtobuy/faq.mspx

 

[Alex Feinman [MVP]]

That's correct