Microsoft relaxes virtual SQL Server terms

Flexible friend

Microsoft has updated the licensing terms and conditions of its popular database for the benefit of virtualized computing environments.

Users can now run an unlimited number of SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition virtual instances on servers, following Tuesday's release of a second service pack. Servers must already be fully licensed for SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition.

The update is part of a package of improvements that enhance SQL Server 2005 for business intelligence deployments with Office 2007 and also adds support for Windows Vista.

Data mining add-ins for Office 2007 mean that data can now be mined using Excel 2007 and Visio 2007, integration between SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) and SharePoint Server 2007 means SSRS reports can be consumed inside SharePoint, and both the performance and functionality of SQL Analytics Services' have been improved for use with Excel 2007 and Excel Services.

Other changes see improved interoperability with Oracle's Report Builder and the ability to build reports on top of Hyperion's Essbase cubes. ®