32-bit vs 64-bit

We are getting a new server and considering running 64-bit versions of
the OS and of SQL 2005. I've never worked with 64-bit operating systems
and am trying to understand the "gotchas". For instance, is it possible
to restore a SQL 64-bit database to a 32-bit server?
Other than possible issues with hardware drivers, are there other issues
we should be concerned about?"Jan Leste" <janleste@.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:uxpr5T2qGHA.4996@.TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> We are getting a new server and considering running 64-bit versions of the
> OS and of SQL 2005. I've never worked with 64-bit operating systems and am
> trying to understand the "gotchas". For instance, is it possible to
> restore a SQL 64-bit database to a 32-bit server?
>
Yes. The database files and backups are identical.

> Other than possible issues with hardware drivers, are there other issues
> we should be concerned about?
Common issues
64-bit support for all your standard server apps/drivers/utilities.
Make sure your antivirus, monitoring agents, backup agents, deployment
agents, etc all support 64bit windows
64-bit SQL Server cannot load 32-bit DLL's
Linked servers, SSIS packages and SSAS cubes require 64-bit OleDb
providers,
old extended stored procedures don't work
SQL Tools are all 32-bit
Be aware that SQL WB, BIDS, ETC all run as 32bit programs in WOW64.
They work fine, but you may need to provide 32-bit drivers for them to
connect to remote data sources, and you may need to modify their PATH so
they don't try to load a 64-bit DLL. COM is bit-ness aware, but often (eg
Oracle) the COM OleDb provider will turn around and issue a Win32
LoadLibrary() call to load other components.
Remember you can always install 32bit SQL Server on 64bit Windows if you
really need to.
David|||David Browne wrote:
> "Jan Leste" <janleste@.yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:uxpr5T2qGHA.4996@.TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Yes. The database files and backups are identical.
>
> Common issues
> 64-bit support for all your standard server apps/drivers/utilities.
> Make sure your antivirus, monitoring agents, backup agents, deployment
> agents, etc all support 64bit windows
> 64-bit SQL Server cannot load 32-bit DLL's
> Linked servers, SSIS packages and SSAS cubes require 64-bit OleDb
> providers,
> old extended stored procedures don't work
> SQL Tools are all 32-bit
> Be aware that SQL WB, BIDS, ETC all run as 32bit programs in WOW64.
> They work fine, but you may need to provide 32-bit drivers for them to
> connect to remote data sources, and you may need to modify their PATH so
> they don't try to load a 64-bit DLL. COM is bit-ness aware, but often (eg
> Oracle) the COM OleDb provider will turn around and issue a Win32
> LoadLibrary() call to load other components.
>
> Remember you can always install 32bit SQL Server on 64bit Windows if you
> really need to.
> David
>
Thanks for the great information.