>>>Hi,
>>>
>>>a client is just about to hit the 10GB limit for SQL Server express 2008 R2.
>>>
>>>What is the easiest and cheapest way to update this to a non-free version?
>>
>>The beauty of SQL Server is that moving to a larger version requires no changes in your application other than connection information (assuming the server name changes).
>>
>>SQL Server 2012 is sold by processor core or by user (seat) license.
>>
>>I've always purchased per processor (our applications and number of users always make the processor license the way to go), but if you have a small enough number of users, a per seat license may be workable.
>>
>>Licensing info is here..
>>
>>http://www.scribd.com/doc/88744729/20120309-SQL-Server-2012-Licensing-Reference-Guide
>
>Thanks very much Bill.
>
>I'm reluctant to switch from 2008R2 to 2012 at the moment as I don't have time to test the system thoroughly before we have to do the upgrade.

2008 is licensed per processor instead of per core. It comes out a little cheaper since you can license a processor with multiple cores for the same $$ as a single core.

FWIW I haven't had any problem with databases I've moved from SQL2008R2. Restore them on 2012, create the users, update connection strings (just the server name), and it just works.