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Working with Multiple Versions and Instances of SQL Server

SQL Server supports multiple instances of the Database Engine, Analysis Services, and Reporting Services on the same computer. You can also upgrade earlier versions of SQL Server, or install SQL Server on a computer where earlier SQL Server versions are already installed. For supported upgrade scenarios, see Version and Edition Upgrades.

Using SQL Server Side-By-Side with Previous Versions of SQL Server

You can install SQL Server on a computer that is already running instances of an earlier SQL Server version. If a default instance already exists on the computer, SQL Server must be installed as a named instance.

The following table shows side-by-side support for SQL Server 2008:

Existing instance of SQL Server 2008

Side-by-side support

SQL Server 2008 (32-bit)

SQL Server 2000 (32-bit)

SQL Server 2000 (64-bit) x64

SQL Server 2005 (32-bit)

SQL Server 2005 (64-bit) x64

SQL Server 2008 (64-bit) IA64

SQL Server 2005 (64-bit) IA64

SQL Server 2008 (64-bit) x64

SQL Server 2000 (32-bit)

SQL Server 2000 (64-bit) x64

SQL Server 2005 (32-bit)

SQL Server 2005 (64-bit) x64

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