SQL Server - 64 bit drivers and issues

SQL Server 64 bit edition, a primer to address the requirements surrounding applications and data are growing in complexity and size. Many applications running on 32-bit platforms today are approaching or have exceeded the limits of the platform, specifically regarding the number of processors and addressable memory. Not only for data explode there is a particular are where the scalability & performance for architecture has become prime responsibility to keep up the high availablity, not to mention about consolidation of servers to  simplify critical data center operations.

In this scenario adoption of 64 bit SQL server and number of applications out there such as data warehouse or day-to-day application management is evident. But think about drivers that are required to consolidate and manage the connectivity between SQL Server  and other providers, and few problems that side  *appears* to be that Microsoft did not include the 64-bit ODBC provider in the operating system (such as using with MDAC).

It is still the case that SQL Server 2008 comes along with its own provider (SQL Native client and ODBC driver) and other data providers can be obtained from respective data provider vendors or just be it  be a third-party product. Talking about operating systems Vista x64 with service pack1 comes with a 64 -bit MSDASQL provider (OLE DB over ODBC). You may be aware tat MDAC has been renamed as WDAC (Windows DAC) in order to blend into operating system as a component rather than a redistributable component to download, for more information on MDAC/WDAC information I suggest refer to this MDAC_WDAC_FAQ and DataAccess_Roadmap links.

So what could be major issue to get a compatible 64 bit driver, so far you may seen the issue surrounding the JDBC drivers and the workaround I see is download the latest drivers or search on their blog - JDBC_Team about some useful techniques on obtaining such drivers. Also I believe Microsoft has released the a 64-bit version of their MSDASQL driver.  This is the same driver that was released with Win 2008 Server and they have made it available for us Win2003 users as well.  This means that we can setup a linked server using SQL Server 2005 64-bit and third-party 64-bit ODBC drivers, which should work with SQL Server 2008 and you can obtain the file from this  MS_Download link which consists the 64-bit MSDASQL for Windows 2003 is now available for download