Arka Guptta Blog: SQL Server Versions, Editions and Database size capacity

SELECT @@VERSION;

SQL Server is available in various editions. This chapter lists the multiple editions with its features.

Enterprise − This is the top-end edition with a full feature set.
Standard − This has less features than Enterprise, when there is no requirement of advanced features.
Workgroup − This is suitable for remote offices of a larger company.
Web − This is designed for web applications.
Developer − This is similar to Enterprise, but licensed to only one user for development, testing and demo. It can be easily upgraded to Enterprise without reinstallation.
Express − This is free entry level database. It can utilize only 1 CPU and 1 GB memory, the maximum size of the database is 10 GB.
Compact − This is free embedded database for mobile application development. The maximum size of the database is 4 GB.
Datacenter − The major change in new SQL Server 2008 R2 is Datacenter Edition. The Datacenter edition has no memory limitation and offers support for more than 25 instances.
Business Intelligence − Business Intelligence Edition is a new introduction in SQL Server 2012. This edition includes all the features in the Standard edition and support for advanced BI features such as Power View and PowerPivot, but it lacks support for advanced availability features like AlwaysOn Availability Groups and other online operations.
Enterprise Evaluation − The SQL Server Evaluation Edition is a great way to get a fully functional and free instance of SQL Server for learning and developing solutions. This edition has a built-in expiry of 6 months from the time that you install it.

Now see the mostly used SQL Server database size capacity as per Editions.

SQL Server Enterprise Edition - 524 PB (PetaByte)

SQL Server Standrad Edition - 524 PB (PetaByte)

SQL Server BI Edition - 524 PB (PetaByte)

SQL Server Express Edition - 10 GB (GigaByte)

SQL Server Enterprise Evalution Version Period for - 180 days

Now see the Evaluation version Create Date and Expiry Date.

      SELECT create_date AS 'Installation Date',

              DATEADD(DD, 180, create_date) AS 'Expiry Date'
      FROM sys.server_principals

      WHERE NAME = 'NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM'

Now see the Developer version Create Date and Expire Date.

      DECLARE @edition SQL_VARIANT
      SELECT @edition = SERVERPROPERTY('Edition')

      IF (@edition = 'Enterprise Evaluation Edition' OR
         @edition = 'Enterprise Evaluation Edition (64-bit)')

      BEGIN

          SELECT create_date AS 'SQL Server Installation Date',

                 DATEADD(dd, 180, create_date) AS 'Expiry Date'

          FROM   sys.server_principals

          WHERE  NAME = 'NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM'
      END

     ELSE

      BEGIN  

          print 'Now you running ' + convert(VARCHAR(100),

                SERVERPROPERTY('Edition')) + ' which won''t expire.'

END

If there is any other better option,

Please share it here or mail to me arkaa4@gmail.com

Thank You,

Arka Gupta.

Arka Guptta Blog