SQL Server 2005 vs SQL Server 2008 on SharePoint 2010

Question

I'm writing a recommendation for an upgrade scenario from SharePoint 2007 to SP2010.

Customer is currently running x64 SQL Server 2005 SP3 on Windows 2003 Server.

Does anyone have pros/cons for upgrading to 2008 server?

From what I saw in benchmarks, it's not a huge performance gain to upgrade to SQL 2008.

Any insight will be appreciated :-)

From what i have read so far, i am aware that SQL Server will need to be 64-bit and at least SQL Server 2005 SP3 Cumulative Update 3 to run SP2010.

Answer 1

Here are a few resons on why to upgrade

1. Upgrade to SQL Server 2008 R2 - performance and availability
2. SQL Server 2005 mainstream support will end fairly soon (read more at http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifesupsps)
3. Security
4. Better Reporting Services

Answer 2

I'd add to Wictor's items:

• Transparent Encryption
• Improved Performance Plans

Answer 3

Anders, slightly off topic for your SQL question, but I put some stuff down in a blog post regarding the upgrade path for SP2010, it might be useful for your recommendation. Then again it might not be, but its there if you want to take a look.

http://www.simple-talk.com/community/blogs/charleslee/archive/2010/01/22/88088.aspx

Answer 4

Take a look at this article for lots of reasons to use SQL 2008 http://blogs.msdn.com/bobgerman/archive/2009/04/07/moss-2007-and-sql-server-2008-better-together.aspx

Answer 5

So here's the next question: if you decide to go ahead and upgrade, how would you do it? For instance (assume dedicated db server is SQL2k5 x64 on Win2k3 R2 x64, one frontend MOSS server also on Win2k3 R2 x64)

DB

1. inplace upgrade to Win2k8 R2
2. inplace upgrade to SQL2k8 R2

Frontend server

1. inplace upgrade to Win2k8 R2(or maybe add a second server and retire the original)
2. MOSS upgrade to 2010

I don't like the idea of inplace upgrades but I'm concerned about losing and/or needing to recreate all my configuration otherwise

Thanks Mark