Andy Leonard

Andy Leonard is CSO of Linchpin People and SQLPeople, an SSIS Trainer, Consultant, and developer; SQL Server database and data warehouse developer, community mentor, engineer, and farmer. He is a co-author of SQL Server 2012 Integration Services Design Patterns. His background includes web application architecture and development, VB, and ASP. Andy loves the SQL Server Community!

Have You Downloaded SQL Server 2012 Evaluation Edition? Why Not?!

I am installing SQL Server 2012 Evaluation Edition on a virtual machine as I type.

You can do this. Here’s one way:

Grab some virtual machine software. I like Oracle VirtualBox. It’s cool. It’s free.
Install VirtualBox.
Download the 180-day free trial of Windows Server 2008 R2. Also cool. Also free.
Once Windows Server 2008 R2 is downloaded, build a VirtualBox VM.
Download and install SQL Server 2012 Evaluation Edition!

That’s all there is to it. You can get started today, no need to wait until 1 Apr 2012 for media to ship. And, you don’t have to worry about making changes to your laptop or workstation (other than installing VirtualBox).

You can explore the cool new features of SQL Server 2012 for the next six months… for free! What are you waiting for?

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Published Thursday, March 08, 2012 3:00 PM by andyleonard

Filed under: SSIS, ETL, Business Intelligence, SQL Server 2012

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Comments

	Peter Schott said: I'm waiting for our IT guy to download the Developer edition from our MSDN/Technet subscription. I can wait a little bit to get an edition that won't expire to play with. Besides, trying to get some other things done and don't have the time to play with 2012 at the moment. :( However, I may want to try the new SSIS bits to move some data around and see what's different. I'm really looking forward to those changes. March 8, 2012 4:36 PM
	Guest said: I am waiting until most bugs are fixed, that is for another year or two. March 8, 2012 5:50 PM
	RichB said: Didn't MS publish VMs with OS and SQL already installed once upon a time, or am I just making up memories? March 9, 2012 5:20 AM
	Hennie de Nooijer said: Ok ok If you say that i'll download it, right away!!! There is only an evaluation version available?! Is het possible to turn it into a developer edition later on?! March 9, 2012 7:12 AM
	Jimmy Rudley said: Hi Hennie, Yes, you can go from SQL 2012 Evaluation to Developer. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143393(v=sql.110).aspx Please look at upgrade paths. March 9, 2012 9:16 PM
	John Sterrett said: Downloading it now and sending a link to this post to my co-workers as most of us are still using Win XP. Thanks Andy. March 10, 2012 12:17 AM
	Peter Pirker said: When SP1 comes around I'll consider looking at it - provided there is time. June 26, 2012 9:06 AM
	andyleonard said: http://andyleonard.me/wp3/how-do-you-keep-up/ June 26, 2012 9:27 AM