SQL Server 2005 x64 Installation Decisions
I have a multi-processor AMD x64 bit server with 8GB RAM that is serving as our SQL2000 database server. I have installed SQL Server 2005 32-bit side by side with SQL2000 on several servers and never had any issues.
Now on this server I have installed, side by side with SQL Server 2000, an installation of SQL Server 2005 Evaluation Edition(which is the same as the Enterprise Edition) but in 64-bit. I chose to install all server, services, tools, etc. components. I immediately had problems as instead of the Visual Studio 2005 BIDS installing it installed MS Visual Studio Premier Edition -enu. I say this loosely as I know that they are both really Visual Studio 2005, however the product that installed did not have the SQL Server related projects available (Integration Services project, Analysis Services project, Reporting Services project, etc.) when I clicked on new project. This is an issue as I am at the stage where I need to write several SSIS projects.
I have also read in these forums that it appears that most of the SQL Server 2005 services and tools are 32-bit compiled applications. So I have two options I would like to explore; would it be a better solution to:
(a) reinstall the 64-bit tools and see if the missing projects in BIDS becomes available
(b) uninstall SQL Server 2005 x64 and then reinstall the 64-bit SQL Server engine and then all other components and tools as 32-bit
(c) or another option I have not considered
