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Which version of Windows 2003 is best?
| Posted by repairer, 07-08-2007, 03:19 AM |
| We have just purchased a new web server and are now in the process of buying the software. Our previous server is runnig Windows 2003 Std, we installed 5 GB RAM in the previous server, but could only see 4, after making a posting on this board someone advised me it was because Win 2003 Std can only see 4 GB RAM. Our new server only has 4 GB RAM, we are going to run an application on it that uses SQL 2005. Will we be OK running this on Std edition? or are there any benefits to buying the far more expensive Enterprise Edition, the cost seems a great deal more, and my question is would we benefit from using it considering the extra cost? (the reason I ask all the above is someone recommended we install Enterprise)
Many thanks
Pete
|
| Posted by hbhb, 07-08-2007, 03:28 AM |
| So you're saying Win 2003 Std can support only max 4GB RAM?
|
| Posted by repairer, 07-08-2007, 03:34 AM |
| hbhb,
Yes thats what I understand when we booted the server after adding additional RAM it showed 5 GB RAM in BIOS but only 4 in Windows, someone on this board provided a link to the Microsoft site where it says Win 2003 std only supports 4 GB RAM (if I read it correctly) So I am wondering if Enterprise, apart from us being able to upgrade with more RAM is a better solution for me, are there any other benefits to running Windows 2003 Enterprise instead of Windows 2003 Std apart from being able to add more RAM?
Thanks
Pete
|
| Posted by lpark1, 07-08-2007, 03:36 AM |
| From microsoft technet:
"Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition
Memory
128 MB of RAM required; 256 MB or more recommended; 4 GB maximum"
|
| Posted by repairer, 07-08-2007, 03:37 AM |
| hbhb,
If you look at this link
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/w.../bb430827.aspx
Pete
|
| Posted by kerplunk, 07-08-2007, 04:46 AM |
| It has to do with 32-bit versus 64-bit, I believe.
|
| Posted by linux1213, 07-08-2007, 05:41 AM |
| All versions i can see are recommended at 128mb - 1GB ram, cant see no 4GB.
|
| Posted by lpark1, 07-08-2007, 07:19 AM |
| Don't talk if you don't read!
It's stated clearly here that:
"Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition
Component Requirement
Computer and processor
PC with a 133-MHz processor required; 550-MHz or faster processor recommended (Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition supports up to four processors on one server)
Memory
128 MB of RAM required; 256 MB or more recommended; 4 GB maximum"
|
| Posted by FHDave, 07-08-2007, 09:26 AM |
| You can buy the Windows 2003 Standard 64 bit and you can have up to 32 GB. And yes, you can install MSSQL 2005 on Windows 2003 Standard.
Whatever you do, make sure you understand that if your intention is to host websites, you can not purchase these. You have to license it through Microsoft under SPLA license. If you can't obtain this, go with other hosting companies that's already Microsoft partner and they can provide these software under SPLA license. To purchase these software and use it for hosting websites will be in clear violation with Microsoft's term.
|
| Posted by dkitchen, 07-08-2007, 11:32 AM |
| To clarify the various limitations...
Windows Server 2003 Std
4GB RAM on x32
32GB RAM on x66
Windows Server 2003 Enterprise
32GB RAM on x32
1TB RAM on x64
The only real difference between the two aside from the RAM differences is enterprise's ability to support cluster services for active/passive and active/active failover for file shares / SQL / exchange / etc.
Dan
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| Posted by repairer, 07-08-2007, 03:26 PM |
| Dan,
Any chance you could explain what cluster services are? will it make my server run any better with SQL 2005?
Thanks
Pete
|
| Posted by plumsauce, 07-09-2007, 03:19 AM |
| Cluster services is failover abilities for cluster aware software, like SQL. You will need N+1 physical machines. If you are not experienced with clustered applications, you will find life very difficult.
SQL ENTERPRISE is also AWE aware, meaning it can use memory above 4GB. To run this configuration, you need W2k3 ENTERPRISE + SQL 2005 ENTERPRISE. You can read up about it in SQL Books Online, or MSDN.
The two most important factors in SQL performance are, in order, disk i/o operations per second, and memory. Hardware raid is your friend.
|
| Posted by mooodi, 07-09-2007, 08:06 PM |
| running Sql 2005 on windows 2003 Standard edition with 4 GB RAM is good enough for server speed.
I have same OS + sql 2005 with 2 GB ram and the machine performance is not bad.
|
| Posted by trau, 07-09-2007, 09:25 PM |
| There is also a difference in the maximum number of processors supported.
|
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