Presents your 
SQL SERVER E-NEWSLETTER for June 3, 2003

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WIN9X'S CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS WITH SQL SERVER 2000

Many businesses still use some version of Windows 9x, whether it's
within their own enterprises or in a range of operating systems on their
network client computers. Consequently, working with SQL Server 2000 in either
of these situations requires knowledge of Win9x's capabilities and limitations.

CLIENT SOFTWARE

SQL Server 2000 client software comes with Enterprise, Standard, and
Professional editions. You can install the software from the SQL Server 2000
compact disk onto the client computer using the Client-Tools Only or
Connectivity Only options (which the SQL Server client access license
covers). This software consists of utilities for managing SQL Server and
performing ad hoc queries on a SQL database.

There are some limitations to this software. Windows 98 and Windows 95
redirects don't provide browser support, which means the SQL Server dialog
boxes don't display a list of servers. So, when using the Register
Server, Register Server Wizard, and Query Analyzer Login dialog boxes, you'll
need to type in the correct server name by hand.

Also, SQL Server tools that poll the state of the server, such as the
Enterprise Manager and the Server Agent, must be set with a poll service
state interval defined by the user.

SERVER SOFTWARE

None of the Win9x operating systems provide an efficient environment for
a robust, scalable version of SQL Server 2000 because the features for a
companywide application aren't available. Therefore, you cannot use the
Enterprise Edition of SQL Server 2000 on any Win9x system, but you can
use the Personal Edition or the Desktop Engine.

The SQL Server 2000 Personal Edition and the SQL Server Desktop Engine,
which comes with all editions of SQL Server 2000, may be appropriate for
smaller projects whose security requires a separate installation (e.g., a
research department that has limited funds and has only a Win98 box).

The SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine is a redistributable version of the
relational database engine and doesn't require any additional licensing.
However, the Desktop Engine has some severe limitations, which include:

* It cannot be started automatically.

* It doesn't have event logs.

* SQL Server Performance Monitor isn't available.

* It doesn't include any SQL Server utilities or tools that have graphical user interfaces.

* It doesn't support named pipes, Banyan VINES servers, or AppleTalk Net-Libraries.

* It doesn't support Windows NT Authentication.

* Clients cannot connect to SQL Server on a Win98 computer using multiprotocol encryption.

* It doesn't support asynchronous I/O, so it cannot use some of the I/O optimizations as
Windows NT or 2000.

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