upgrading sql 2005x32 to sql 2005x64

[tonyvee1973]

Hi guys
looking to upgrade our existing sql server 2005x32 to sql server 2005x64.
Our existing sqlserver is running on an ESX vmware machine which is 32bit (Not sure why they done this as the main OS on th emachine is 64bit.

Will i have to upgrade the ESX to 64bit or should i be able to simply upgrae the sql version from 32 to 64bit on the existing ESX?

ANy info or advise would be appreciated
Thanks

 

[gmmastros]

The OS needs to be 64 bit in order to install SQL x64.

-George
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
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[tonyvee1973]

hi george
the server os is server 2003r2 x64.
just wondering if the best way is to remove the esxware totally and just have the sqlserver x64 on the server or if i can create a x64 client on the vmware and install sql2005 x64 oin it?

 

[gmmastros]

Either way should work.

I don't have any experience with esxware. I use HyperV instead. I prefer to have my servers virtualized because it makes it easy to move the virtual machine from one server to another. That being said, I own a super small company (10 employees) with 3 servers. Two of the 3 servers are used for multiple purposes (including the SQL Server). By using virtual servers, I can easily move them between the 2 physical computers to balance the load.

-George
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
My Blogs
SQLCop
twitter
"The great things about standards is that there are so many to choose from." - Fortune Cookie Wisdom

 

[tonyvee1973]

he problem i have is that our db is 15GB+ and getting pretty slow as eventhough the server has 24GB ram as its only 32gb the virtual SQL2005 32bit will only use 4GB - Trying to think of th ebest way to sort it out.

 

[fredericofonseca]

First.. there is no need to change the ESX software unless the version you have does not support the operating system you need. By your second post it looks like it does.

if your Windows server is already 64 bit migrating the database is the easy part.

But things to consider.
1 - ssis/dts - do you use it? if so you need to make sure that all the required drivers you use have 64 bit versions of it and that they are installed and working
2 - instance name - do you need it to remain the same or can you easily change all the apps that use it to point to another instance name?


So one way of doing it is.

Install new 64 bit instance of 2005 on the same machine.
Make sure that all required software can connect to that instance
Migrate all logins to this instance
detach the databases from the 32 bit instance and attach it to the 64 bit instance
remove old 32 bit instance
Change all apps to point to the new instance name


Regards

Frederico Fonseca
SysSoft Integrated Ltd

http://www.syssoft-int.com

FAQ219-2884
FAQ181-2886

 

[foxyland]

To add the consideration: if you have custom DLL for external function on your database, you must have the x64 version. SQL Server x64 won't read 32 bit DLL. I have similar problem a while back ago. I tried to move my database (was on MS-SQL 2005) to MS-SQL 2012 x64. I could not do that because a custom DLL was not readable. The DLL was created with Microsoft Visual Foxpro, and alas, VFP couldn't (and will not) compile x64 DLL. So I stuck with SQL Server 2005 until the same procedure was re-written with C# and compiled to x64 DLL.

hth,
Foxyland

 

[SQLScholar]

1 - ssis/dts - do you use it? if so you need to make sure that all the required drivers you use have 64 bit versions of it and that they are installed and working

Or from SQL Agent you can force it to run in 32 bit mode and use the current 32 bit drivers. Often easier.

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