SQLNCLI for acces to SQL2012 on winXP

Question

Hi,

we develop desktop application compatible with SQL 2005 and newer and WindowsXP and newer OS on client side. Application uses relational database engine a OLAP layer also. Unfortunately SQLNCLI11.0 is incompatible with WindowsXP. My question is, if it is possible to use SQL2012 drivers for OLAP layer and SQL2008 (SQLNCLI10) drivers for access to relational database? DB layer does not use new 2012 features (is fully compatible with SQL2005). It can be set to lower Compatibility Level if necessary. Is any way how to run environment with SQL2012 on server and WinXP (with some drivers) on client side?

Thanx

Filip

Answer 1

No, not that I know.

You know that the extended support ends next year for Windows XP. After that, no new updates will be available for XP. Thus makeing it advisable to change the OS, cause of security reasons.

Answer 2

I don't fully understand your configuration, but suggest that you simply try to use either of the older versions.  Since the application determines which client to use (and presumably can be configured to do so), you can have all 3 versions on the same machine - all talking to the same instances.  Of course, using an older client will prevent your application from accessing newer features - but it sounds like that is not an issue.  From the link below, we can see that sql server 2012 supports connections from all versions of the native client.

Native client support