Can Sql 2000 and 2005 express work together?

I have a server (win server 2003) that is running Symantec Backup Exec for backups. I found that this soft uses an SQL server 2000 instance to keep his data... The problem is that I developed an application in asp.net (with VS2003) that use an SQL server 2005 express database. What I want to know is if I install SQL server 2005 express, is the backup will still work? I mean that the 2005 express wont upgrade sql 2000? What do I have to do to make it works?

hi,

SQL Server 2000 (including MSDE) and SQL Server 2005 (including SQLExpress) cna be installed "side by side"...

you can install up to 16 different instances per box, and each instance will maintain it's own binaries and registry settings separated from all other instances.. even at different service pack levels..

obviously you have not to mismatch instance's names.. only 1 instance per box can be the "default" instance, known as "ComputerName" or "." or "(Local)" (the last 2 only for local connections), where all the other instances have to be "named" instances, known as "ComputerName\InstanceName" or ".\InstanceName" or "(Local)\InstanceName" ... further info at http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143547.aspx

a little "note" should be mentioned about shared components.. this binaries are actually shared among all instances of the same code base.. so all 2000 related shared binaries will be shared among all 2000 instances, where 2005 shared components will be shared with all 2005 instances, at the higher service pack level..

another "side note".. and this is COM related.. COM components do not allow "side by side" implementation, so that SQL Server 2005 installs some of them at the 2005 edition level.. and SQL Server 2000 will "inherit" those components.. think about SQL-DMO and the like, but you should not be interested with that as 2005 versions are downwards compatible...

regards

|||Thanks a lot!