Question : 32 or 64 bit SQL Server

Hi,

I'm currently developing my first vb.net application for a client.  It's a client-server application utilizing MS SQL Server 2008 as the database and a vb.net frontend.  I had a meeting with the IS department where I was asked what type of MS SQL server I wanted to use - 32 bit or 64 bit.  I wasn't sure so I told them I would let them know by the end of the day.  I'll be doing my development work on an xp professional 2002 machine running service pack 2.  What would be my best choice.  I'd like to get some advice.  My initial inclination is 32 bit for compatibility issues.  Thanks

Answer : 32 or 64 bit SQL Server

No, because when you compile from VB.NET you will compile to "ANY CPU"

If you explicitly changed it to x64 - made it a 64 bit app only - then it should not work on a 32 bit machine.

Compiling to Any CPU means that the app will figure out at runtime how to load (a little bit bigger in size, but the app will run in both 32bit and 64bit mode as required)

If you were developing a app only for the 64bit server you could compile it to x64 and the file size would be smaller.