MSDNAA Program

What is MSDNAA?

The Microsoft Developers Network Academic Alliance (MSDNAA) is a wonderful, cost-effective annual program that has benefited Computer Science students by providing them with the most up-to-date developer tools, servers, and platforms currently available from Microsoft. These resources give Computer Science students the opportunity to create the most innovative and advanced client / server / Internet solutions possible, and as a result, Computer Science students have a competitive advantage when making future career choices.

What’s in the MSDNAA Package?

The MSDNAA package includes many tools that Computer Science students can start using immediately. This includes

• Betas, new releases, and updates


• Development tools such as

  o Visual J++

o Visual Studio 6.0 and .NET

• Knowledge Base technical support library
• MSDN Library

o Documentation, technical articles, and code samples

• Microsoft operating systems, Software Development Kits (SDKs), and Driver Development Kits (DDKs)
• Microsoft Visio 2003 - Professional Edition
• Microsoft Visual Studio Professional Edition
• Microsoft Windows 2002, 2003, and .NET Enterprise Servers including

o SQL Server
o Exchange Server
o Commerce Server
o BizTalk Server
o Host Integration Server
o Application Center
o Systems Management Server

The Computer Science Department receives new releases and product updates throughout the fiscal school year.

How the Program Works

Students and faculty currently taking and/or teaching courses within the Computer Science / CNT area can check out software from the CD library. Currently the software can be

1. Given to students who are enrolled in at least one course within the Computer Science Department


2. Given to faculty who are teaching at least one course within the Computer Science Department

At this time students and faculty can check out the CD of their choice. If the library method is used, there will be a limit on the number of CDs that can be checked out at any given time. All software reproduced for library checkout purposes are complete copies.

Usage Guidelines

In order for students to participate in this program they must be enrolled in at least one credit course within the Computer Science Department to be eligible to check out and load the software onto their own computers. The same guidelines apply to faculty members with the exception that they should be teaching courses in the above-mentioned department.

Students and faculty can use this software for instructional use, research / design, development and testing of projects for class assignments, or tests on personal projects.

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How to get the Software

Students and faculty need to fill out the MSDNAA Software Check Out form located at the technician’s desk in Room 600. Reports are kept and submitted periodically to Microsoft concerning software usage. Students and faculty will need to supply the following information:

• Proof of enrollment in Computer Science or CNT course(s)
• Name


• Phone Number


• Student ID
/ Faculty ID

• e-mail


• Course enrolled in (or teaching if faculty)


• Semester


• Name of requested software
• The disc number of the CD to be checked out.

The turnaround time for the library system may be several days depending on how many CDs you request. All discs that are checked out must be returned within two (2) business days.

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Additional Information

Computer Science students and faculty can download additional information from www.msdnaa.net such as:

• Course content


• Technical tips


• Message boards


• Web casts