What's the cheapest way to get a legit license for MS 2003 Server?

February 5, 2008 9:18 PM

What's the cheapest way to get a legit license for MS 2003 Server?

I work in a small computer shop in Canada. We support several businesses that run 2003 Server. I think we'd do a better job of supporting these businesses if we were were running 2003 Server day in and day out (even though it's overkill and cost prohibitive for our internal 5 machine network). Anyway, any tips for procuring 2003 Server on the cheap?

posted by sockpup to Computers & Internet (9 answers total)

Find a friend who works at Microsoft - they can buy any product at a huge discount via the company store.
posted by falconred at 9:43 PM on February 5, 2008

Best answer: Take a look at getting the Microsoft Action Pack. It is designed for what you are doing. I believe it is around $299 per year US.

Besides Server 2003, you will get a lot of other MS software.
posted by sciatica at 10:37 PM on February 5, 2008 [2 favorites]

Small Business Server might be the answer if you're only 5 people ($599 for 5 licenses).
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 10:37 PM on February 5, 2008

Naturally, $419 from NewEgg.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 10:39 PM on February 5, 2008

Best answer: Definitely the Action Pack.
posted by disclaimer at 4:39 AM on February 6, 2008

Action Pack or MSDN, whatever's cheaper. I haven't worked with MS products for awhile, but essentially, with the Action Pack you say you're developing with or supporting microsoft products, and to facilitate that, they send you a CRAPLOAD of software for a tiny subscription fee. You're not really supposed to be using it FOR your business -- but I'm sure Microsoft is happy enough to get the $299, and as long as you're doing "some" testing/development using the install I think you're covered.
posted by fishfucker at 8:57 AM on February 6, 2008

I was in the IS&T program at Weber State, and being enrolled in that program got me a free license for Server 2k3, XP Pro, and gads of other stuff that I never use.

Granted, it's only one license, and you'd have to enroll at a school that has that arrangement with M$, but there it is.

If I were still in the program, I'd be getting Server 2k8 and Vista licenses as well. As it is, I love that my home server runs 2k3 instead of XP, as it's a lot more flexible.
posted by SlyBevel at 11:05 AM on February 6, 2008

You really have think about what you intend to accomplish here. Do you want the software for the convenience of easy install and validation, to ease your guilty conscience, or to withstand close scrutiny from an enforcement agency? If you want to be in 100% compliance with MS end user licenses, an educational version won't help.
posted by Chuckles at 3:06 PM on February 6, 2008

Best answer: The action pack looks very promising, in terms of 100% compliance.

From Microsoft Action Pack Subscription: Initiative Addendum:

3.2 Company’s right to use Microsoft software (including any sample and beta code) provided to Company through this Initiative is governed by the license agreement provided with the software, including any end-user license agreement, software use rights, or supplemental license. Company’s use of the software is subject to the terms of the software licenses, except for the use restrictions listed in this Addendum and the Initiative guide.

3.3 The total number of licenses Company may install and use may not exceed the numbers outlined in the Initiative quarterly mailing.

3.4 The licenses are provided for use at Company’s primary business location only and must be used only for Company’s internal business purposes, application development and testing. The licenses are not intended for employee personal use at home, for hosting customer’s applications, or for installation at a customer site, and may not be resold, transferred, or assigned to any third party.

So, you should be able to use the action pack software however you want, as long as it is for internal use only.
posted by Chuckles at 3:14 PM on February 6, 2008