We have a web application product that utilizes SQL Server as its backend database. For production systems, we deploy SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise edition.
We have a customer that would like to do a six month proof of concept (POC) project with our product to see if it meets their needs. They would like us to host this POC. Our plan is to deploy the product in our cloud environment on a virtual machine. The POC project would not be considered a production system by us or the customer. It would contain sample data that they could use to evaluate the product. Because we are hosting the POC, they will reimburse us for part of our costs.
My question is around the licensing for SQL Server. For this situation, do we have to use the Enterprise edition of SQL Server or can we use the Developer version since this is not a true production system? If we can use the Developer version, do we have to buy a license for each user our customer plans to have test the system?