small business needs to run aspx app & sql server - resource question

[yarbrough40]

I build aspx apps at work. A small business has asked me to build them an internal web app for them. They own a box running server 2005 and are using it as file server the best I can tell. This server should do the trick to host an app to be accessed by a handful of employees. My question is - generally speaking, can I just install IIS and the express edition of Sql Server to store their data without the company having to buy extra packages and licensing?

Again this is just a general question, not expecting a fully qualified answer... Simply, is it generally legal for the business to implement this software considering they already own the server?

(this may be more appropriate in the /bytes/it/windows section - sorry if that's the case)

[Frinavale]

IIS is part of the Windows Operating system; so installing IIS on the server does not require the company to purchase any additional licenses.

I'm not sure how MS Sql Server Express licensing works so I did a quick search on the topic and came across this Microsoft website for Redistributing SQL Server 2005 Express. I couldn't see the end user license agreement but if you log in and check it out then you'll find the answer :)

Now, for "legal implementation" are you referring to writing code or are you referring to installing/running the application?

If "legal implementation" refers to writing code then you should be using a legitimate version of Visual Studio to produce the web application.

If "legal implementation" refers to installation/running the application then I think you're covered but you should double check that end user license agreement (and if you don't understand it, have a lawyer look it over with you) to make sure that your application can be legally run once you distribute it.


-Frinny

[yarbrough40]

Thanks much Frinny! exactly what I was looking for - not sure why I couldn't find that link on my own... crazy. Anyway as far as this.....

for "legal implementation" are you referring to writing code or are you referring to installing/running the application?

Is there a difference here? I mean... sure - I will be both writing the apps from scratch using my ligitimate Visual Studio copy and then doing the install of the app on the company's server for them to run. Do you see any 'red flags' here with this scenario?

[Frinavale]

Not that I'm aware of.

You still may want to talk to a lawyer (who specializes in computer software) about your rights to your own code once you've released it and to make sure that all of the components of your application can be redistributed without legal repercussions.