How to Get Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Developer Edition for Free
If you are looking for a free and feature-rich database for developing and deploying SQL Server 2008 R2 applications, you might be interested in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Developer Edition. This edition is identical to SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Edition in terms of features, but it is licensed for use as a development and test system, not as a production server. In this article, we will show you how to download and install Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Developer Edition for free.
Step 1: Download Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Express with Service Pack 2
The first step is to download Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Express with Service Pack 2 from the official Microsoft website. This is a free and lightweight edition of SQL Server that is ideal for learning, developing, powering desktop, web and small server applications, and for redistribution by independent software vendors (ISVs). You can choose from different versions depending on your system architecture (x86 or x64) and your needs (basic, advanced or with tools). For this tutorial, we will use the SQLEXPRWT_x64_ENU.exe file, which includes the database engine and SQL Server Management Studio Basic.
Step 2: Install Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Express with Service Pack 2
The second step is to install Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Express with Service Pack 2 on your computer. To do this, follow these steps:
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Developer Edition
Run the SQLEXPRWT_x64_ENU.exe file that you downloaded in the previous step.
Accept the license agreement and click Next.
Select the features that you want to install and click Next.
Specify the instance name and click Next.
Choose the authentication mode and set the passwords for the system administrator accounts and click Next.
Configure the reporting services and click Next.
Click Install to start the installation process.
Wait for the installation to complete and click Next.
Click Close to exit the setup wizard.
Step 3: Download SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard on Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard (x64)
The third step is to download SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard on Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard (x64) from the official Microsoft website. This is a pre-configured virtual hard disk (VHD) that enables you to evaluate SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard Edition for 180 days. This VHD contains SQL Server 2008 R2 Developer Edition, which is identical to SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Edition in terms of features. You can choose from different versions depending on your system architecture (x86 or x64). For this tutorial, we will use the TD03WS08SFR2SP1x64_SQL08.part01.exe file and its corresponding parts (part02.rar to part06.rar).
Step 4: Install SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard on Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard (x64)
The fourth step is to install SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard on Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard (x64) on your computer. To do this, follow these steps:
Extract the TD03WS08SFR2SP1x64_SQL08.part01.exe file and its corresponding parts (part02.rar to part06.rar) using a tool like WinRAR or 7-Zip.
You will get a file named TD03WS08SFR2SP1x64_SQL08.vhd, which is the virtual hard disk containing SQL Server 2008 R2 Developer Edition.
Create a new virtual machine using a tool like Hyper-V or VirtualBox and attach the TD03WS08SFR2SP1x64_SQL08.vhd file as its hard disk.
Start the virtual machine and log in with the username Administrator and the password P@ssw0rd.
You will see a desktop shortcut named Activate Windows. e3ff22d237