sql server 2008 express vs sql server 2008 r2 express

Question

I have what I believe to be SQL Server 2008 Express. There appears to be another thing on the market, to wit, SQL Server 2008 R2 Express.

What's the difference between the SQL Server 2008 Express and SQL Server 2008 R2 Express versions?

How do I upgrade my SQL Server 2008 Express to SQL Server 2008 R2 Express?

Is it possible to attach a .mdf file created by SQL Server 2008 R2 Express to SQL Server 2008 Express?

Answer 1

>>What's the difference between the SQL Server 2008 Express and SQL Server 2008 R2 Express versions?

SQL 2008 R2 is a newest version fo SQL Server. It supports database size upto 10 GB in express edition (however, it is still limited to 1 GB of RAM and a single processor only)

>>How do I upgrade my SQL Server 2008 Express to SQL Server 2008 R2 Express?

You can use detach/attach or backup/restore to upgrade your SQL 2008 database to SQL 2008 R2

>>Is it possible to attach a .mdf file created by SQL Server 2008 R2 Express to SQL Server 2008 Express?

the database physical version number increased to 660. The database version number for 2008 RTM and SP1 is 655. So build number is different.

No, you won't be able to take that 2008 R2 database and attach it back (or backup/restore it back) to 2008 RTM or SP1.

Answer 2

re: Chirag Shah

The version number of my SQL Server 2008 Express is 10.0.1600.22. I've no idea of what it means. But I do know that I cannot attach a .mdf file because "The database cannot be opened because it is version 661."

Would I be able to attach the problematic .mdf file if I had SQL Server 2008 R2 Express?

Assuming my version of SQL Server 2008 Express is not SQL Server 2008 R2 Express, how do I get from my version of SQL Server 2008 Express to SQL Server 2008 R2 Express?

Answer 3

Would I be able to attach the problematic .mdf file if I had SQL Server 2008 R2 Express?

Assuming my version of SQL Server 2008 Express is not SQL Server 2008 R2 Express, how do I get from my version of SQL Server 2008 Express to SQL Server 2008 R2 Express?

It sounds like you are trying to use a SQL Server 2008 R2 database in SQL Server 2008, which are not backwards compatible. You will have to script the database objects and data in R2 and run those scripts on SQL Server 2008 (NOT R2)

>>Assuming my version of SQL Server 2008 Express is not SQL Server 2008 R2 Express, how do I get from my version of SQL Server 2008 Express to SQL Server >>2008 R2 Express?

You need to install R2 Express, and then attach your SQL 2008 MDF file. Backup of 2008 and restoring it on R2 should also work.

Answer 4

re: Chirag Shah
-- You need to install R2 Express

Assuming my SQL Server 2008 Express is not SQL Server 2008 R2 Express, am I to construe that there is no upgrade from SQL Server 2008 Express to SQL Server 2008 R2 Express?

Can SQL Server 2008 Express and SQL Server 2008 R2 Express co-exist side by side on the same machine?

Answer 5

You can upgrade your Express 2008 to R2 or you can run it side by side (download R2 and run setup)

Also, SQL 2008 express can co-exist side by side with R2 on the same machine.

Answer 6

re: Chirag Shah
-- You need to install R2 Express

Assuming my SQL Server 2008 Express is not SQL Server 2008 R2 Express, am I to construe that there is no upgrade from SQL Server 2008 Express to SQL Server 2008 R2 Express?

Can SQL Server 2008 Express and SQL Server 2008 R2 Express co-exist side by side on the same machine?

hi,

in addition to Chirag Shah, for your convenience, you can perhaps have a look at an experience of mine about upgrading SQLExpress 2008 to SQLExpress 2008 R2 at http://www.asql.biz/Articoli/SQLX08/Art5_1.aspx

as regard co-existence, as Chirag Shah already pointed out, the 2 versions can co-exist on the same machine, but the "shared components" like SQL Server Management Studio and the like will should be upgraded at the higher version as you can get in trouble, say, using "older tools" with newer engine versions.. so please provide to upgrade SSMS as well, as long as BIDS (if used) and the like..

regards

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Answer 7

What options do I have to move my DB objects from a DEV environment (10.50.1600) to a PROD(10.0.4000)? I hate to have to create scripts for a thousand objects plus the data.

 

Thanks.

Edward

Answer 8

The only option available to you is to create scripts. Alternatively you can downgrade your development environment to the same version as your production server. There is no other way to migrate objects from the higher version of SQL Server to the lower version of SQL Server. Scripts is the only option.

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Premature optimization is the root of all evil in programming. (c) by Donald Knuth

Naomi Nosonovsky, Sr. Programmer-Analyst

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Answer 9

Thanks Naom

 

Since my PROD is a greenfield, can I upgrade it to the same version as my DEV. However my DEV, even though its a higher version, is also a SQL Express version. While on PROD its a full licensed Standard Version (one just below the Enterprise)?

 

Thanks again

Edward

Answer 10

It will mean, you need to purchase the higher version for your production. You need to find out how much upgrade will cost if you decide to upgrade production. I don't anticipate any problems from the technical point of view of upgrading, but you may need to use a migration wizard (if it exists) and verify if everything still works the same way. In other words, you may want to have some transitional server where you'll verify that upgrade is safe for production.

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Premature optimization is the root of all evil in programming. (c) by Donald Knuth

Naomi Nosonovsky, Sr. Programmer-Analyst

My blog

Answer 11

What do you do if you are trying use a SQL Server 2008 (Express) database in SQL Server 2008 (Express) R2.  My Database is version 661 while my SQL server supports up to 655 (and which is R2 because it says R2 in my SSMSE) 

(BTW: Shouldn't R2, which is a higher newer version, support databases higher than my database which was created in an older version of SSMSE several years ago (about 2008 or so?) How did my database get up to 661.  I did temporarily download VMD 2010 and may have used my database in it, but I don't remember 2010 working.)

Answer 12

Please verify the version of SQL Server by running

select @@VERSION

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