>>>Yes, but also another example of Microsoft shifting towards more industry standards.
>>>
>>>>Another nail in the coffin.
>>>>
>>
>>Ok, thanks. Regardless of the fact that OLE DB is being deprecated, we need a fairly robust SQL Server to handle a lot of requests (not HealthCare.gov quantity, but within our company with hundreds of users). We plan only to use FoxPro data via a linked server only in the interim while we port the entire thing completely to SQL Server.
>>
>>How much of a performance difference will we have in the end after the port is complete if we are stuck on a 32 SQL Server vs. 64 bit?
>
>Hi, Jeff,
>
>One question - what's the OS on the Server .....Windows Server 32 bit or 64 bit?
>
>Whether you want to use 32 bit or 64 bit for SQL Server really depends on the amount of memory dedicated to the database server/service itself. If it will be less than 4 GB, then 64 bit doesn't buy you much. But if the DB server will have more than 4 GB (and you'll likely want more!) then you'll want the 64-bit version. Reason being, 32-bit can't address beyond a certain amount of memory.
>
>One thing....if you have a 64-bit version of Windows Server running, then it won't make much sense to run 32-bit SQL Server.
>
>Additionally, if you ever get into data warehousing and use the columnstore index in SQL Server, Microsoft baked some huge, and I mean HUGE performance optimizations into the database engine in SQL 2012 and 2014 for certain data warehousing/data mart scenarios. You'll get far more out of those benefits in a good 64-bt environment. Think big. :)
>
>
>As for OLE DB, as others stated, Microsoft is dropping support for it, in favor of ODBC. That doesn't mean OLE DB will "break" in the next release - but they're dropping support for it.

Kevin,

I'm certainly hoping the server will be 64 bit. I believe it's going to be a new server and while I don't control the IT Dept here, I'd like to think that they will go 64 bit. I'll ask around about it.

As I asked Naomi, I'm wondering if we can install a 32 bit SQL to use VFP OLE DB with until we complete the entire migration to SQL and then make a db backup and then install a 64 bit SQL Server 2012 or even a 2014. Will a 32 bit db backup work on a 64 bit SQL?

Thanks