SQL Server Editions

Microsoft® SQL Server™ comes in three editions: Standard, Enterprise, and Small Business Server (SBS). In addition, users covered by a per-seat license from any of these three editions can install a Desktop SQL Server installation on their client computer.

This table compares the capabilities of the Standard, Enterprise, and SBS editions.

Feature	SBS	Standard	Enterprise
Runs on Microsoft BackOffice® Small Business Server	Yes	Yes	No
Runs on Microsoft Windows NT® Server	No	Yes	No
Runs on Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition	No	Yes	Yes
Maximum database size	10GB	Unlimited	Unlimited
Number of SMP CPUs	4	4	32
Extended memory support	No	No	Yes
SQL Server Failover Support	No	No	Yes
Supports Microsoft Search Service, full-text catalogs, and full-text indexes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Supports Microsoft SQL Server OLAP Services	No	Yes (No user-defined cube partitions)	Yes (Includes user-defined cube partitions)

The performance of the Small Business Server Edition is limited to the throughput typical of 50 concurrent users, although individual SBS installations may be licensed for fewer than 50 users. The performance of the Standard and Enterprise editions are limited only by the hardware and operating systems on which they run.

While the Desktop edition can accept remote connections, it is intended for SQL Server clients that:

Operate in a mobile environment where they are sometimes not connected to their SBS, Standard, or Enterprise edition of SQL Server and need a local database to store data while disconnected.
Store most of their SQL-based data in an SBS, Standard, or Enterprise edition of SQL Server, but occasionally run applications that need local database storage.

The Desktop Edition server component has these capabilities:

Runs on Windows 95/98, Windows NT Workstation, Windows NT Server, and Windows NT Enterprise.
Has no limit to the size of the databases it supports.
Scales effectively over 2 SMP CPUs.
Has optimizations to minimize memory usage. The working set is minimized during startup and while the system is running.
Supports full merge and snapshot replication. Supports only subscriptions to transaction replications, cannot publish transaction replications.
The Desktop server does not support these features at any time:
- Parallel queries
- Fiber mode scheduling
- Read-ahead scans
- Hash and merge joins
- Failover clusters
- Extended memory addressing
For more information about additional features that are not supported when the Desktop server is running on Windows 95/98, see SQL Server 7.0 on Windows 95/98.
The Microsoft Search service cannot be installed during a Desktop server installation. Desktop servers do not support full-text catalogs and indexes. Computers running a Desktop server can use SQL Server Enterprise Manager to manage full-text indexes on computers running SQL Server Standard or Enterprise editions. Applications running on Desktop servers can also execute full-text queries against SQL Server Standard or Enterprise edition databases that have full-text catalogs and indexes.
OLAP Services cannot be installed during a Desktop server installation. Applications running on Desktop servers can use the client PivotTable® Service.

SQL Server and Year 2000

As of the date that Microsoft® SQL Server™ 7.0 is shipped, it will contain fixes for known year 2000 issues. For the most current year 2000 compliance information on Microsoft SQL Server 7.0, please visit www.microsoft.com/year2000.