SQL Server Express - Variants

Variants

Microsoft makes SQL Server Express available as:

  • An integrated edition with management tools
  • Core database-engine only
  • A SQL Server Express with Advanced Services edition (first introduced relatively late in Q2 2006 compared to the original release) with a reduced-functionality version of SQL Server Reporting Services and with full-text search capabilities

In the Free 2005 Express version, for example, a standard approach to installation options was provided (as follows). Generally the SQL 2005 Express installers are packaged with the following consistent naming convention:

SQLEXPR.EXE
Has installers for BOTH 32-bit & 64-bit processors, but is a basic install
SQLEXPR32.EXE
Has ONLY the installer for 32-bit processors (still the basic install)
SQLEXPRWT.EXE
Has installers for BOTH 32-bit & 64-bit processors AND SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMSE) (2008 R2)
SQLEXPR_ADV.EXE
Has the basics AND SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMSE) + Reporting & Full Text Queries
SQLEXPR_TOOLKIT.EXE
Has the basics and SSMSE and Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS)

These optional variants have gone through several service packs, and each SP installer can be used without using the older ones first:

  • Originals of the above files all carry the version number 9.0.1399.6
  • Service Pack 2 (SP2) versions all carry the version number 9.0.3042
  • Service Pack 3 (SP3) versions all carry the version number 9.00.4035
  • Service Pack 4 (SP4) versions all carry the version number 9.00.5000

Whilst the naming and versioning has been very consistent and simple, many reports exist on the web of major installation problems, which in some cases can be traced back to using installers of different names and versions to attempt to install only parts of what they provide. This results in apparent partial installation failures. In general the best approach is to uninstall an older service pack completely and then reinstall all that is needed from the appropriately named file of the latest SP.

Read more about this topic:  SQL Server Express

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