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# Environment types

> Environment types in Business Central online: production, sandbox, preview, test and demo environments. It answers questions about which environment to use, how to create trials or partner sandboxes, how to preview major updates, and how quotas apply.

Path: [Administration](../../administration.md) > [Understand Business Central online](../understand-business-central-online.md) > Environment types · tier official · system administration · narrative reviewed (checked by Opus)

## Overview

This section describes the kinds of environments you can run in Business Central online and what each is for. Production and sandbox environments are the core pair, and the sandbox page covers partner sandboxes for lower-cost nonproduction use, with full premium functionality and storage and environment quotas that depend on licenses.

Other pages cover specific purposes. Preview environments let you test major updates before release by creating or updating a sandbox to a preview version, during public preview or early access preview. The test environments page explains 30-day trials created via Partner Center and dedicated environments for resellers and partners who test or demonstrate functionality.

The Demo environments subtopic goes further on demos. It compares an MDX demo environment, a prospect trial and a sandbox, and explains setup and enhancements such as Contoso Coffee demo data, connectivity apps, and Sales and Field Service integrations. Start with Production and Sandbox Environments, then go to the page that matches your goal.

## Key points

- Production and sandbox environments serve different uses in Business Central online.
- Partner sandboxes offer a cost-effective option for nonproduction scenarios with full premium functionality.
- Storage quota and environment quota are based on licenses.
- Preview environments test major updates before release, in public preview or early access preview periods.
- A preview is made by creating a sandbox or updating an existing one to a preview version, and feedback can be submitted.
- Test environments can be 30-day trials created via Partner Center, or dedicated environments for resellers and partners.
- Demo environments subtopic compares an MDX demo environment, a prospect trial and a sandbox.
- Demo enhancements include Contoso Coffee demo data, connectivity apps, and Sales and Field Service integrations.

## Subtopics

- [Demo environments](environment-types/demo-environments.md) (4 pages)

## More Learn pages

- [Prepare for Major Updates with Preview Environments](https://learn.microsoft.com/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/administration/preview-environments): Learn how to use preview sandboxes to help prepare for the next major update of Business Central online.
- [Preparing test environments of Business Central](https://learn.microsoft.com/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/administration/test-environment): Get an overview of your options for deploying test environments for Dynamics 365 Business Central for performance testing.
- [Production and Sandbox Environments](https://learn.microsoft.com/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/administration/environment-types): Learn about the differences between production and sandbox environments for Dynamics 365 Business Central.

## Business Central pages and reports

The pages, reports and queries this hub's Learn pages name (ms.search.form, API reference), joined to the code by exact object id (data/index/docs-objects.json); a page shows the table it runs on.

- [Page 2500 "Extension Management"](../../../../objects/page/2500.md) · via [Demo environments](environment-types/demo-environments.md)
- [Page 20350 "Connectivity Apps"](../../../../objects/page/20350.md) · on [Table 20350 "Connectivity App"](../../../../objects/table/20350.md) · via [Demo environments](environment-types/demo-environments.md)

Learn also names 1 object with no object page: page/2502.

Source: Microsoft Learn (CC BY 4.0). Descriptions are Learn's own.