SQL Server 2005 Workgroup in SBS 2003 R2 Premium Edition

Yes. SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services is included with SBS 2003 R2 Premium Edition. SBS 2003 R2 Premium Edition includes the new Report Builder, an end-user reporting tool, which is new for SQL Server 2005.

Most applications designed for SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition will be compatible with SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition. However, it is important to review the backward compatibility documentation for SQL Server 2005, available here .

Thoroughly testing your application in a test environment with SQL Server 2005 is recommended before upgrading your existing production application installation to SQL Server 2005.

No, you will need to upgrade to SBS 2003 R2 Premium Edition. If you purchase SQL Server 2005 Workgroup and join it to your SBS 2003 Premium Edition network, you will need to purchase SQL Server 2005 Workgroup CALs to access the server. Upgrading to SBS 2003 R2 is the most economical way of obtaining SQL Server 2005 Workgroup technology. Upgrading to SBS 2003 R2 will also get you expanded SBS CAL rights. This means that any additional SQL Server 2005 Workgroup servers can use the SBS CAL instead of requiring separate SQL Server 2005 Workgroup CALs. Please note that these expanded CAL rights are part of the SBS 2003 R2 server license; they are not available to SBS 2003 or SBS 2003 with SP1 customers, only SBS 2003 R2 customers.

If you have licensed a copy of SBS 2003 R2 Premium Edition but your vendor has not certified a LOB application for use with Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition (the version of Microsoft SQL Server that ships with SBS 2003 R2 Premium Edition), you may be entitled to exercise an "one-time" downgrade of your SBS 2003 R2 Premium Technologies CD to SBS 2003 SP1 Premium Technologies CD, which includes Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition. After exercising this Premium technologies downgrade right, you may run the version of your LOB application which is compatible with SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition. For details, visit the downgrade rights page. This offer is valid through April 30, 2008.

No, in fact SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition offers many additional features beyond SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition. SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition provides the key features that small businesses need. It includes the following features that are not present in SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition:

For smaller organizations and businesses, SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition provides the essential functionality needed in a database solution.

SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition provides many new features, enhanced performance, and increased memory support, providing more benefits to customers than SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition.

Although SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition has some features that are not available with SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition such as Analysis Services and full replication and publication, these features are not used by the majority of SBS 2003 customers.