SQL drivers

[jimatqsi]

I am considering switching my SQL ODBC connections from SQL Server driver to SQL Native Client. I understand the SNC should be much faster than the other.

If I do that, what problems might I be making for myself? Now, I never have to worry about where I am installing my front-end, the SQL Server driver seems to be present on all machines. The SNC looks to be more version specific; it's 10.0 on my development machine.

Some SQL Server installs that I use are 2008, 2008R2 and 2012.

Any advice about this would be greatly appreciated.

Jim

[zmbd]

Let's kick start this...
just to be upfront, I've not looked in to this beyond the following article so this will be the extent of what I can do for you; however, other's may have more insight in to the situation:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms130828.aspx

[NeoPa]

I've heard that using SNC Drivers is less problem prone.

They may not be quite as ubiquitous as the standard ODBC ones, but generally worth the change I would expect.

I'm sorry i can't give much more than that as I was advised early on to go SNC so haven't had the problems others may have.

[jimatqsi]

Thank you both for your comments. I read that msdn article previously, but thought there's probably some real world messiness that such articles fail to mention and then it only comes to light when you're in the slop. Maybe it's not a very contentious change to make or there would be more discussion about it. I'm hopeful :)

Thanks again.

[jimatqsi]

I learned today that SNC drivers are now a thing of the past. No more updates will be made to them. The current thing is Microsoft® ODBC Driver 11 for SQL Server. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/down....aspx?id=36434

[NeoPa]

Yes, but that may be because the standard ODBC drivers will now be supporting SQL at the same level so the SNC ones won't be required any more.

[jimatqsi]

You mean there will be no difference between the two?

[NeoPa]

I'm not sure there'll be no difference exactly. It may be simple semantics, but I'd expect the SNC ones to stop short and get no further development when the ODBC drivers cover all the ground that the SNC ones did. A bit like the new ODBC drivers being newer versions of both the older types.

Of course, this is only my reading of the linked article. I'm no expert here and I may have misinterpreted what was said, but that's my understanding.