Difference between "Not Supported" and "No" for SQL Server and Windows

Question

Difference between "Not Supported" and "No" for SQL Server and Windows

Rob Lane 0

The Using SQL Server in Windows article (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/sql/general/use-sql-server-in-windows ) contains a matrix under item 1 that shows Windows Servers mapped to SQL Servers. Some entries indicate that a SQL Server is Not Supported on a Specific Windows server. For example, SQL Server 2016 is not supported on Windows Server 2022. Other entries indicate No for SQL Server on a Windows Server, for example SQL Server 2019 indicates No for Windows Server 2012. In this context, what does "Not Supported" mean?

Sabir Hussain 0 Reputation points

2023-07-29T08:33:55.5566667+00:00
Not Supported: When a feature or functionality is labeled as "Not Supported" in SQL Server or Windows, it means that it is not officially endorsed or recommended by the product's developers or the company behind it. It could refer to:

Deprecated Features: Features that have been marked as deprecated in a particular version of SQL Server or Windows are considered "Not Supported." Deprecated features are those that are still available but are no longer recommended for use as they may be removed in future versions. Developers are encouraged to transition to alternative features.

Third-Party Extensions or Modifications: If you are using third-party extensions or modifications in SQL Server or Windows that are not provided or approved by the official vendor, they might be labeled as "Not Supported." Using such extensions can pose risks and may cause compatibility issues with future updates.

Certain Configurations: There might be specific configurations or combinations of software or hardware that are not officially supported by the vendor. Running the product in such configurations could result in unpredictable behavior or performance issues.

In summary, when something is marked as "Not Supported," it means that the vendor does not guarantee its proper functioning, and using it might lead to problems or limitations.

No: When a feature or functionality is indicated as "No" in SQL Server or Windows, it simply means that the product does not include that particular capability. In other words, the feature is not available in the version of SQL Server or Windows being referred to.

For example:

Edition Limitations: Certain editions of SQL Server or Windows might not include specific features present in higher-tier editions. In this case, when you inquire about the availability of such features in a particular edition, you might get the response "No."

Version Limitations: Older versions of SQL Server or Windows might lack certain features that were introduced in later versions. When asking about these features in an older version, you might be informed that they are "Not available" or "No."

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In conclusion, "Not Supported" implies that the feature exists but is not endorsed or may have limitations, while "No" indicates that the feature is not present in the product at all. It's essential to pay attention to these distinctions when planning your database or system requirements to ensure compatibility and avoid potential issues.

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Answer 1

Konstantinos Passadis 19,586 MVP

Hello @Rob Lane !

Welcome to Microsoft QnA!

When you see the matrix and read the info below , i realize that No and NOt Supported express the same thing

The only thing i can think off is that SQL 2022 does not install on Server 2012 so we have simple 'No"

and the reverse situation is that the OS does not support the SQL , and we get "Not Supported"

It is the same conclusion from a different point of view!

I hope this helps!

Kindly mark the answer as Accepted and Upvote in case it helped!

Regards

Answer 2

I am not sure why they make this distinction in the table, but there is a practical difference.

If you look at the table, it seems that "No" is for a newer version of SQL Server on an older OS. This is a situation that Setup can detect and block. (And in really bad cases, Setup may not even start.)

"Not Supported" is for the reverse situation: an older version of SQL Server on a newer OS. This is a situation that Setup has no knowledge about, so as long there are not any breaking changes in the OS, the install is likely to succeed. However, would you run into an issue and open a support case, Microsoft may just hook up the phone. And specifically, Microsoft is under no obligation to fix issues that are due incompatibilities between the SQL Server and the OS.

It it is important to remember that just because you can install something and it seems to run, does not mean that it is supported.

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Difference between "Not Supported" and "No" for SQL Server and Windows

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