SQL 2005 and Editions on 32-bit/64-bit
SQL Server 2005 has 32-bit and IA64bit versions (just like SQL 2000), but it also has a specific x64-bit version that runs natively on x64-bit hardware.
Read on to lean more about the versions, hardware and OS requirements.
o Hardware
§ You can install the 32 bit versions on x86 hardware.
§ You can install the 32 bit versions on x64-bit hardware on Intel (Xenon with EM64T) or AMD64 (Optron, Athlon). But this would run in WoW64 (Windows-32-on-Windows-64) emulation mode.
§ 32 bit versions of SQL 2005 are not designed to be installed on IA64-bit hardware from Intel (Itanium and Itanium 2). For this, install the IA64 edition of SQL Server 2005.
§ For more information, refer to the BOL link here.
o OS
§ If you are using x86 hardware, then you can use 32-bit editions of Windows Server 2003 SP1 – Standard, Enterprise and Datacenter.
§ If you are using x64-bit hardware, then you can use either 32 bit Windows editions as above OR x64-bit editions of Windows (Standard, Enterprise and Datacenter). It is recommended that you use the x64-bit version of Windows.
§ If you are using IA64-bit hardware, then you can only use IA64-bit editions of Windows Server 2003 and IA64-bit edition of SQL Server 2005. 32-bit editions of SQL 2005 are not designed to be installed on IA64 hardware.
§ For other supported OS, please refer to system requirements for SQL 2005 in BOL here.
NOTE – Windows Server 2003 x64 bit editions were based on Windows Server 2003 SP1 32 bit code, which means, that they are already patched to SP1 level and you don’t have to install SP1. But any hotfix based on SP1 can be installed.
o Service Packs
Service Pack 1 (9.00.2047.00) was the first service pack launched for SQL 2005 and it has 3 versions - available for x86, x64 and IA64 editions of SQL 2005.
An important thing to note here is that if you are running SQL Server 2005 32-bit edition on x64-bit hardware, then you need to install the x86 version of SP1 and NOT x64-bit version of SP1.
However, if you are running x64-bit edition of SQL 2005 on x64-bit hardware and x64 bit OS, then you have to install x64-bit version of SP1.
Read my blog about SP1 here.
o Editions available
SQL Server 2005 32-bit versions are available as Enterprise, Standard, Workgroup, Developer and Express (replacement of MSDE 2000).
Refer to this link for more information about the editions and the features supported in each edition of SQL Server 2005 https://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143761(SQL.90).aspx
o Hardware
§ Intel (Xenon with EM64T) or AMD64 (Optron, Athlon). But the good thing here is that SQL Server 2005 x64-bit version runs natively on x64-bit hardware and there is no WoW64 emulation.
§ You cannot install it on x86 or IA64 hardware.
§ For more information, refer to the BOL link here.
o OS
§ You can install SQL Server 2005 x64-bit version on x64-bit editions of Windows Server 2003.
§ You cannot install it on IA64-bit editions of Windows Server 2003 running on IA64 hardware.
§ For other supported OS, please refer to system requirements for SQL 2005 in BOL here.
o Service Packs
Service Pack 1 (9.00.2047.00) was the first service pack launched for SQL 2005 and it has 3 versions - available for x86, x64 and IA64 editions of SQL 2005.
If you are running SQL Server 2005 x64-bit edition, then you need to install the x64-bit version of SP1.
Read my blog about SP1 here.
o Editions available
SQL Server 2005 x64-bit version is available as Enterprise, Standard and Developer editions. SQL Server 2005 Express edition and Workgroup edition are only available as a 32-bit application.
Refer to this link for more information about the editions and the features supported in each edition of SQL Server 2005 https://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143761(SQL.90).aspx
o Hardware
You can install SQL Server 2005 IA64-bit version only on Intel’s Itanium hardware.
o OS
SQL Server 2005 IA64-bit edition can only be installed on Windows Server 2003 IA64-bit editions (Enterprise and Datacenter with SP1) running on Intel’s IA64 hardware.
o Service Packs
Service Pack 1 (9.00.2047.00) was the first service pack launched for SQL 2005 and it has 3 versions - available for x86, x64 and IA64 editions of SQL 2005.
If you are running SQL Server 2005 IA64-bit edition, then you need to install the IA64-bit version of SP1.
Read my blog about SP1 here.
o Editions available
SQL Server 2005 IA64-bit version is available as Enterprise, Standard and Developer editions. SQL Server 2005 Express edition and Workgroup edition are only available as a 32-bit application.
Refer to this link for more information about the editions and the features supported in each edition of SQL Server 2005 https://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143761(SQL.90).aspx
Going Legacy – SQL Server 2000
The story is slightly different for SQL Server 2000.
SQL Server 2000 only has two versions:
o 32-bit version
§ Hardware
· You can install SQL Server 2000 32-bit version on x86 hardware
· OR on x64-bit hardware Intel (Xenon with EM64T) or AMD64 (Optron, Athlon). It will run in WoW64 emulation mode and you will need SP4 minimum.
· 32-bit version of SQL 2000 is NOT designed to be installed on Intel’s IA64 hardware. Use SQL 2000 IA64 edition for this.
§ OS
· 32-bit versions of Widows Server 2003 SP1
· X64-bit versions of Windows Server 2003 running on x64-bit hardware. Here, SQL 2000 will run in WoW64 emulation mode.
· For other supported OS (Windows 2000 etc.), please refer to system requirements for SQL 2000 in Books Online.
§ Service Packs
· The latest service pack available is SP4, with roll up build of 2187.
· If you want to install SQL Server 2000 32-bit on x64 hardware running x64-bit Windows Server 2003, then you MUST to install SP4 (2187 build optional). Refer to KB 898042
o IA64-bit version
§ Hardware
SQL Server 2000 IA64-bit can only be installed on Intel’s Itanium hardware.
§ OS
SQL Server 2000 IA64-bit can only run on IA64bit edition of Windows Server 2003.
§ Service Pack
SQL Server 2000 IA64-bit edition was launched in tandem with SP3 (760 build), so it already has fixes that were part of SP3.
You can install SP4, which is the latest service pack for SQL Server 2000 IA-64bit.
How to find the edition and version installed
In SQL Server errorlogs, you will see the following entry indicating that SQL Server 32 bit edition is installed on the box.
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - 9.00.2040.00 (Intel X86)
For more information on how to identify the edition and version, refer to my other blog here.