Parallel installations of SQLServer 2005 and 2008

Question

Is there any problem with SQL Server 2008 on a development machine while our production database and 175 clients are running SQL Server 2005?
I believe that 2008's management tools are backward compatible but, I'd really like to look at 2008 on my development machine for a few months before deciding whether or not to upgrade everyone.

Answer 1

No Problem. I use SQL 2008 developer edition to connect and work with my SQL 2005 production databases.


Just to let you know some of the features that are available in 2008 like intellisense will not work when you connect to SQL 2005.

Answer 2

I believe what you need to pay attention is the Database Engine features that are no longer available in SQL Server 2008 if you are using them in SQL 2005. For example, BACKUP TRANSACTION is replaced with BACKUP LOG. For a complete list of Discontinued Database Engine Functionality in SQL Server 2008: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms144262.aspx.

And, we suggest you to upgrade to use SQL 2008 as there are many great features like Data Compression, Policy-Based Management, Resource Governor, Transparent Data Encryption, Data Auditing...

Hope it helps.
Dannol

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Answer 3

Thanks to you both.  The one feature that I have gotten mixed information about is, SQL Notifications via Servers Broker.  Is this supported in 2008?

Answer 4

Steve,

I experienced occasional interference due to the dual installation, nothing biggy though.

Here is a related thread:

Can SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2005 coexist on the same machine?

I love SQL Server 2008!

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Kalman Toth, SQL Server & BI Training, SSAS, SSIS, SSRS; http://www.SQLUSA.com