You can use another database server, not SQL Server, even free one (Postgres, Firebird, SAP DB,...).
I use Firebird and is very reliable. I've tried this (on home computer): 5 VFP instances adding records to one database + power off, three times. Nothing bad hapened, after restart I've been able to work normally with the database.

>When I reed your answers(to all community), they are the same as Venelina gave me in our disputes.
>But clients like other things.
>I have clients with 50 PC networks, which IT managers nobody can persuade to spent $5000 for SQLServer. Their answer is your VFP application works pretty well without SQLServer.
>SQLServer has a lot of advantages, but this is reality