MS SQL Server 2019 evaluation license expired (Error code 17051)

Question

We have an installation of SQL Server CTP 2.2, "Evaluation", it has expired and the SQL service has stopped. We want to move to a production version of SQL server 2019 but it is not available yet, as far I know. We have tried to upgrade from Evaluation to Developer to get the SQL service back in run, but without any luck. The actual upgrade process went well, but the version is still Evaluation and SQL service cannot be started. What can we do to get the SQL server up and running again?

Thanks 

Answer 1

If you are on the EAP programme for SQL 2019, you should have a contact at Microsoft that you can talk to.

If are not in the EAP, I hope that this instance is not for production.

The latest build for SQL 2019 is RC1. It is supported to upgrade from CTP 3.0 to RC1, but upgrade from CTP 2.2 is not supported. It may work, but there are no guarantees.

You could uninstall, install RC1 (which is still not licensed for production), and attach the databases. But this could fail, if there incompatible changes over the versions.

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Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, [e-mail]

Answer 2

Hi K. Sorani，

I am full agree with Erland. By the way, SQL Server 2019 RC is available only as Evaluation Edition. No other editions are available. 

SQL Server 2019 release candidate (RC) enables the following scenarios:
• Side-by-side installation. Install instances of SQL Server 2019 RC with instances of SQL Server 2012 through SQL Server 2017, or other instances SQL Server 2019 CTP 3.0 or higher.
• In-place upgrade. Upgrade to SQL Server 2019 RC from instances of SQL Server 2012 through SQL Server 2017 and SQL Server CTP 3.0. Upgrade from a SQL Server 2019 CTP below 3.0 is not supported, a new installation must be performed.

Please refer to SQL Server 2019 preview release notes to get more information.

Best regards,
Cathy Ji

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Answer 3

I managed to get SQL Server up and running again by uninstalling the CTP 2.2 version and installing RC1 version, and attach the database to the new SQL server through attach MDF and ldf files

Thanks for help

Answer 4

Hi Cathy,

We couldn't start up our instance. Error: "SQL Server evaluation period has expired."

Then, we tried to do "Upgrade Edition" from SQL Server 2019 CTP 3.2 to SQL Server 2019 Enterprise.

The upgrade features report doesn't show "Database Engine Services".

From the file C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\150\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20200219_141821\ConfigurationFile.ini:

FEATURES=SNAC_SDK,SNAC,BROWSER,WRITER

The upgrade edition completed.

We check the SQL Server instance Properties > Advanced, it shows Unit Name = Developer Edition. 

But, still, we couldn't start the instance service, it has the same error "SQL Server evaluation period has expired."

Please help, Thanks!

Answer 5

Hi Cathy,

We couldn't start up our instance. Error: "SQL Server evaluation period has expired."

Then, we tried to do "Upgrade Edition" from SQL Server 2019 CTP 3.2 to SQL Server 2019 Enterprise.

The upgrade features report doesn't show "Database Engine Services".

From the file C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\150\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20200219_141821\ConfigurationFile.ini:

FEATURES=SNAC_SDK,SNAC,BROWSER,WRITER

The upgrade edition completed.

We check the SQL Server instance Properties > Advanced, it shows Unit Name = Developer Edition. 

But, still, we couldn't start the instance service, it has the same error "SQL Server evaluation period has expired."

Please help, Thanks!

TrangKDuong, has this been resolved for you?  I am having the same issue.