Comparing SQL Server Express with MSDE

SQL Server 2000 MSDE is the predecessor to Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (SQL Server Express), and is based on SQL Server 2000. If you are updating your applications to use SQL Server Express, you must consider the changes in feature support from MSDE to SQL Server Express.

SQL Server Express and MSDE Limitations

The following table lists the limits that have been set for MSDE and SQL Server Express databases.

Limitation	MSDE Limit	SQL Server Express Limit
Concurrent workload governor (throttle)	Yes	No
Database size limitation	2 GB	4 GB
RAM support	2 GB	1 GB
SMP support	2 (or 1 if MSDE is run on Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition)	1

Note

In MSDE, the Workload Governor (also known as the throttle) caused performance limitations as the number of concurrent users increased. SQL Server Express does not have a Workload Governor.

MSDE and SQL Server Express Feature Support

The following table lists the changes in feature support between the products.

Feature Area

Supported in MSDE?

Supported in SQL Server Express?

Merge Replication

Yes

Yes, as a Subscriber only

Transactional Replication

Yes, as a Subscriber only

Yes, as a Subscriber only

Snapshot Replication

Yes

Yes, as a Subscriber only

SQL Server Profiler

No

Yes only if another edition of SQL Server 2005 is installed on the same machine as SQL Server Express.

Note:

SQL Server Profiler is not installed with SQL Server Express.

Database Engine Tuning Wizard

No

No

SQL Server Agent

Yes

No

Active Directory registration

No

Yes

For more information about MSDE and SQL Server Express, see "Upgrading MSDE to SQL Server Express at MSDN library.

See Also

Concepts

Types of Replication
Replication Components

Other Resources

Replication in SQL Server Express
Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2005

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance