Legally running MySQL on Win2003 Server Web Edition is a completely
different question from the technical question. No one outside of Microsoft
can answer that decisively for you. Their EULAs can be vague enough at
times to warrant proper concern.
It does not matter if others have managed to get this to work. Your
question remains a legal one, and it needs to be posed in a Microsoft
venue (forum, email, etc).
The other place I thought to address this question is at the MySQL site and
forums. While I thought there may be far more interested parties at their
web site who want (or need) to know the answer to this question, I could
only find the following information.
From mysql.com:
Installing MySQL on Windows
http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.1/en/windows-installation.html
To run MySQL on Windows, you need the following:
A 32-bit Windows operating system such as 9x, Me, NT, 2000, XP, or Windows Server 2003.
A Windows NT-based operating system (NT, 2000, XP, 2003) permits you to run the MySQL server as a service.
The use of a Windows NT-based operating system is strongly recommended.
See Section 2.3.11, “Starting MySQL as a Windows Service”.
On the technical-side, I found this post where Istvan Scherf replied to his
own question. He is the only one I found who is running MySQL on the
Web Edition. You might ask him.
http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?11,131 ... msg-131086
My search of Google and MySQL.com and MySQL forums did not turn up
any actual discussion of MySQL and the "Web Edition."
http://search.microsoft.com yielded no results either.
Opinion:
My research of the the Web Edition itself shows that it meant for poor,
individual developers and not for actual business use. It is severely
crippled and serves more as a technology preview for those who cannot
afford the other editions. I believe it is meant to keep such developers
from exploring Linux. At best, the Web Edition might serve smaller SMBs.
But I think SMBs are better served with WinXP Pro, or even W2K, where
there is great familiarity, flexibility, and support. ... and no bizarre EULA
restrictions.
Snoopy, I know you've got a job to complete, and I hope you find a good
solution to your situation.
Best Wishes,
JK