Microsoft Windows Web Server 2008 R2 & SQL Server 2008 Web Edition- free 3yrs

WebSiteSpark http://www.microsoft.com/web/websitespark/ provides software licenses that you can use for three years at no cost. Once enrolled, you can download and immediately use the following software from Microsoft:

•3 licenses of Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition
•1 license of Expression Studio 3 (which includes Expression Blend, Sketchflow, and Web)
•2 licenses of Expression Web 3
•4 processor licenses of Windows Web Server 2008 R2
•4 processor licenses of SQL Server 2008 Web Edition
•DotNetPanel control panel (enabling easy remote/hosted management of your servers)

The Windows Server and SQL Server licenses can be used for both development and production deployment. You can either self-host the servers on your own, or use the licenses with a hoster. WebsiteSpark makes it easy to find hosters who are also enrolled in the program, and who can use your licenses to provide you with either dedicated or virtual dedicated servers to host your sites on.

More info @ http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2009/09/24/announcing-the...

Fix your link

Fixed Link

I am not a fan of Windows Web Servers at all, but must say that this is pretty cool. The last time I rented a windows server I paid an extra $20 a month to lease the license.

I may be in for 1 just to learn how to use SQL server.

ionizer said: as mentioned over at SD
after the 3 years they claim it costs $100....not sure how they plan on getting that $100 though

Hopefully not the same way 1&1 plans on getting renewal fees.

ibm650 said: CoreyC said: ionizer said: as mentioned over at SD
after the 3 years they claim it costs $100....not sure how they plan on getting that $100 though

Hopefully not the same way 1&1 plans on getting renewal fees.
Could you explain about 1 & 1, I was thinking about using them

They are way underpriced. I question how they do that...

All phone calls say "due to a telephone outage, your phone quality may be poor". I believe this "outage" has been for a few years now. The phone quality is poor as they use some sort of crappy voip with India. At least they have tech support though.

I haven't heard anything negative about their fees, though.

sphegdave said: Collection agency. I had an issue where they charged me for services I didn't order.
I've heard this a lot with 1&1.

poohbie said: sphegdave said: Collection agency. I had an issue where they charged me for services I didn't order.
I've heard this a lot with 1&1.

yup dreamhost will just sell your domains or extort cash to get them reactivated if you don't pay your bill.

hmm my domain is worth $1000; i'd rather have a collection agency CALL (not anything else) than have to pay $200 to buy back my domain and have my hosting shut down while i'm in the hospital in a coma for 6 weeks.

its how business works. the calls aren't real collection calls. having your domain (email) held hostage could ruin a business and its integrity.

anyhoo.

like bizspark this software is not time bombed. its like msdn/technet but a gimped version for hosting. iirc web server 2008 has some issues with domains; i'm guessing the sql server may too? 4 process (Thats 4 quad or hex or 8 or 12 core) sql server probably is not going to be running on the same machine as the web server(s)?

cool deal. i wonder if you can sign up if you are microsoft certified partner hmm.

I was all ready to sign up for the Websitespark and then I noticed the Bizspark program.

In the microsoft BIZSPARK, you get "everything but the kitchen sink".
[crap..... they don't include Windows 7]

Same 3 year and $100 concept.

link

BizSpark Technology Offering and Support Resources Software Provided Through BizSpark

Software includes:

Microsoft Expression Studio
• One (1) Expression Studio v2

Microsoft Visual Studio
• Visual Studio Team System 2008:
– Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite
– Visual Studio Team System 2008 Development Edition
– Visual Studio Team System 2008 Architecture Edition
– Visual Studio Team System 2008 Test Edition
– Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition
• Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Foundation Server Standard Edition
• Visual Studio 2008 Professional
• Visual Studio Team System 2005:
– Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite
– Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Developers
– Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Architects
– Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Testers
– Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Database Professionals
• Visual Studio 2005 Professional
• Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Microsoft Office System
• Visual SourceSafe 2005
• Previous versions of Visual Studio
– Visual Studio .NET, Visual Basic, Visual C#, Visual C++, Visual J#, Visual FoxPro

Microsoft Servers
• SQL Server, all versions
• Application Platform Servers
– BizTalk Server, Commerce Server, Host Integration Server, Connected Services Framework, Customer Care Framework
• Business Productivity Servers
– Content Management Server, Exchange Server, Office Live Communications Server, Office Forms Server, Office Groove Server, Office Performance Point Server, Speech Server, SharePoint Server, Windows SharePoint Services
• IT Operations Servers
– Identity Integration Server, Microsoft System Center, Microsoft Operations Manager, Microsoft System Center Capacity Planner, Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager, Systems Management Server, Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server

Microsoft Dynamics
• Dynamics AX, GP, NAV, SL, Microsoft Forecaster & Microsoft FRx

Operating Systems
• Windows Vista
– Ultimate/Enterprise/Business/Home Premium/Home Basic
• Windows XP
– Professional/Home/Media Center Edition/Tablet PC Edition
• Windows Server 2008 (all versions)
• Windows Server 2003 R2
• Windows Compute Cluster
• Windows SharePoint Services

2007 Office System
• Office Ultimate/Enterprise/Professional Plus/Professional 2007
• Office Word, Office Excel, Office PowerPoint, Office Outlook & Business Contact Manager, Office Access
• Office Publisher, Office InfoPath, Office OneNote, Office Communicator, Office Groove, Office SharePoint Designer, Office Visio Professional, Office Project Standard
• Office Accounting, Office Business Scorecard Manager, MapPoint, Office FrontPage
• Office Project Professional
• Office Project Server, Office Project Portfolio Server

Other Microsoft Tools, SDKs, DDKs
• Access Developer Extensions
• Virtual PC, Virtual Server
• .NET Framework, .NET Compact Framework, .NET Micro Framework
• Windows SDK, Platform SDK, DirectX SDK
• Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.0, Application Compatibility Tool Kit 5.0
• Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK), Windows Installer
• Windows Driver Kit (WDK), Windows Hardware Compatibility Test
• Visual Studio 2005 Extensions for .NET Framework 3.0
• Robotics Studio Standard, CCR and DSS Toolkit Standard

Production and Hosting (For production and deployment of Startup’s new “software-plus-services” offer to be delivered to customers over the Internet. See Appendix B below for business scenarios with the Production and Hosting rights.)

Hosting Servers
• SQL Server 2008 Standard, Enterprise and Workgroup Editions
• SQL Server 2008 Web Edition
• Windows Web Server 2008
• Windows Server 2008 Standard and Enterprise
• Windows Server 2008 Standard and Enterprise without Hyper-V™
• BizTalk Server 2006 R2 Branch, Standard and Enterprise Editions
• Office SharePoint Server 2007 for Internet Sites

IT Operations Servers
• System Center Configuration Manager 2007 with SQL Server 2005 Technology
• System Center Data Protection Manager 2007
• System Center Operations Manager 2007 with SQL Server Technology

Support Resources
Program and Product Support
(Microsoft support professionals will respond to your questions within business hours.)
• Two technical support incidents, covering assistance with technical break-fix issues
– All members of the Startup are eligible to receive customer support. However, only the Startup’s Primary Contact is eligible to receive Two (2) Technical Support Incidents.
Connect to http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscriptions/aa948875.aspx for regional support contact information and governing terms and conditions.
• Unlimited program support for non-technical issues
– Connect to http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscriptions/aa948875.aspx for regional support contact information.

The use of the Microsoft software and technologies are made available to Startups that are members in the BizSpark Program and the license use terms extent to the Startup’s individual members who have accepted the BizSpark End User License Agreement. The Microsoft technologies included in the BizSpark program must not be transferred to a third party. The information is representative and not comprehensive. Products, versions, availability and additional benefits are subject to change. Because this offering is likely to be updated from time to time, Startups and Network Partners should visit the Microsoft® BizSpark website at http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark often to check Program Guides, including Appendix B: Production and Hosting Scenarios

I just bought a Dell Quadcore (8200) XPS box to use as a VMware server.

You can get a free copy of the VMware ESXi software that loads on a bare metal box (no OS.) Load each of these applications as a virtual machine on the box to host. Quite a setup for no cost for software.

You can also load trial copies of Windows Server 2008 or Windows Home Server as a test base, with clean install and "uninstall" compared to staging a machine.

I have had Dreamhost for a number of years, like them quite a bit. They had a special "10 years prepaid" hosting package a few months ago, wish I had grabbed that - good price.

Edit: I see Windows Server 2008 and Microsoft's own Virtualization servers in the second package. Too, too many packages. Just learning what tehy all do will take me all winter.... ;>