SQL Server 2005 In Production Environment

  • We are in the process of rewriting our whole system on a new platform and are trying to determine if we should move to SQL Server 2005 or stick with 2000 as our database server.

    Our first projects are scheduled to be rolled out for beta launch at the end of December. We know that SQL Server 2005 is scheduled for release on November 7, but my boss is a little leary of using such a new release in a production environment. He said he would usually wait until the release of service pack 1 before using it.

    There are many features in 2005 that we would like to use and are leaning towards using 2005, but we are wondering if anyone in the community has been using the beta version for an extended period of time and if you could let us know what your experience with it has been. We realize that there are always problems with the beta version just because it is beta, but if you could let us know if you've had any issues or concerns that haven't or won't be addressed with the launch version we would appreciate your comments.

    Thanks!


    Wendy Schuman

  • I have been using 2005 for about six weeks now.  Software is always buggy and I am specifically zeroing in on the Reporting Services which were new in 2003 (in SS 2000).  We are set to deploy around the same time and I hope that it is obvious that this is a risk and that MS isn't necessarily known for being on-time (or debugged).  Waiting until SP1 also isn't necessarily any better; but at least by then you've heard about the bugs and perhaps can live with them.  I have gotten to the point where I have installed older softare just to see what's buggy because it's beta and what's just buggy... and believe me, there are a few bugs.  But the new features are inticing.  You might consider downloading the software and setting up a test box.  In the meantime, listen to the boss


    Cheers,

    david russell

  • Thanks for your reply. The problem is my boss wants my opinion on which version we should use by Monday. There are many features of 2005 which we would like to use. Have you had any issues with the Management Console? Have you used any of the XML features? Have you worked with Notification services in 2005? We also are interested in the new DTS framework (I believe they call it SSIS in 2005). Have you used that?

    Yeah. The more I think about it, the more I think that my recommendation should be to install it and do some testing. I hate to recommend going with 2005 and then find that it has bugs in some of the features we want to use it for.

     


    Wendy Schuman

  • You won't relly come up with anything new by installing it. It is a great product, there is a lot of nice new features, and it is a beta so it will crash or behave strange sometimes. The argument with SP1 is not necessarily so important for SQL Server. The product goes through so much testing and is already being used at places (everything at Microsoft for instance) so I think you can be pretty safe in starting out with RTM directly. So basically, if you want the new features, I say go for 2005.

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