SQL Server Express 2008 R2(free version) from SQL Server 2008 R2 Management Studio

[AR Ratheesh]

Hi ,
How can i create SQL Server Express 2008 R2(free version) from SQL Server 2008 R2 Management Studio.

I have SQL Server 2008 R2 management Studio. for my MS Access database i need to deploy Access 2010 as front end and SQL Server Express 2008 R2 as back end.

I am not sure on SQL Server.Any way to create the free edition of SQL Server Express for my databases.

If my question is wrong,sorry for that.
Please Help me.

Thanks in advance

AR Ratheesh.

[Stewart Ross]

I guess you mean that you want to use SQL Server Express for the production back-end database. You should be able to install this on the server you intend to use as the back end, but I think you will need to do so from a SQL Server Express installation file.

I am fairly sure that Management Studio does not provide you with a license to deploy a full-version SQL Server installation as an enterprise server for your organisation.

If you look up the product details for Management Studio and its Express versions on MSDN you should be able to find out for certain what the license conditions are.

-Stewart

[Stewart Ross]

I checked the version info for Express and you can certainly deploy it free of charge for business use on a relatively limited scale. To quote MS's information:

SQL Server Express is a free edition of SQL Server ideal for developing and powering desktop, web and small server applications. Download SQL Server 2008 R2 Express or try SQL Server Code Name “Denali” CTP3, which includes SQL Server Express LocalDB, a new lightweight deployment option for Express.

MS also make it clear that the Developer editions cannot be used for deployment of SQL Server installations.

-Stewart

[NeoPa]

Assuming that you're really trying to ask whether it's possible to manage an Express Edition Server instance from the full copy of Management Studion then I think the answer is yes. The best way for you to find out though is simply to try it out.