Windows 2008 and SQL 2000
Ok we all know SQL2K has lost support from Microsoft. We all know it is marked with "compatibility" issues with Win2k8. But will it run? Microsoft dropped the ball on us here. They shipped Win2K8 before SQL2000. leaving those of us with giant budgets in a pickle... The option from Microsoft "upgrade to SQL2k5 and buy software assurance".
I assure you, their bottom line will thank you.
But if you are a smaller shop with limited resources and getting Win2k8 approved was nearly impossible you may be in a jam about SQL.
Or if you, like me, do not want to spend thousands on Sql2k8 just because MS is slow in sending you the "heroes happen here" copy of sql2k8 so you can start playing...err working... with win2k8 and you have limited hardware resources in your home lab... than running sql2000 on win2k8 seems reasonable as a short term solution.
When you try to install sql2k you get a scary message that it is not compatible. Nice message, but it does not really say it will not work, nor does it stop you. Just click continue; now I always setup a domain service account for SQL and set all services to run under that account (there are articles out there about securing SQL in a domain environment that explain the reasons for this so I will leave that to them). After setting my configuration and letting the files copy I noticed the service did not start. Taking a page from install Sql2k on win2k3 I choose to install SQL sp4. After a few errors I tracked down the only issue I really ran into....security. After giving the service account modify rights to the Microsoft SQL server directory in the program files directory the service started and sp4 installed like a champ.
So my server rebooted, came back up and SQL was running.
And that's it. SQL runs in an unsupported and "not compatible" but working manner. Would I do this in a production environment? Not if I could help it. Do I trust it? Not really. Would I recommend it? No way. When SQL2k8 arrives Ill be upgrading to that and removing SQL2K.
I see lots of people asking if it will work and the responses all seem to be the same "It is not supported, upgrade to SQL2k5 or get SQL2k8". No one seems to be willing to answer the question that was asked.
Yes, it will run. No it is not supported. Will every single feature work? I do not know, I do not use every feature of SQL. But SQL itself will run.
Of course one can drive their car off a cliff too... that does not make it a good idea nor recommend.