Mixed environment x64 and x86 (compatibility)

I have all sql servers running 32bit. We need another SQL cluster and I woul
d
like to install SQL2005 x64. My concerns are the compatibility between
SQL2000 32bit, SQL2005 32bit and the new one:
questions:
can I restore a x64 database to a 32bit SQL Server?
Anyone has had compatibility issues using a mixed environment?
If there is no difference, why there are different AdventureWorks versions
(x64 and x86) to download?
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...&displaylang=en
Microsoft says there is no problem, but I would like to hear some real
experience ..
thanks
Julio MHi
"Julio Mattos" wrote:

> I have all sql servers running 32bit. We need another SQL cluster and I wo
uld
> like to install SQL2005 x64. My concerns are the compatibility between
> SQL2000 32bit, SQL2005 32bit and the new one:
> questions:
> can I restore a x64 database to a 32bit SQL Server?
The backup file format is the same on both machines. The database file
format has not changed either, therefore you can move these from one platfor
m
to the next without issues.

> Anyone has had compatibility issues using a mixed environment?

> If there is no difference, why there are different AdventureWorks versions
> (x64 and x86) to download?
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...&displaylang=en
This is probably because of the samples being deployed on different platform
s.

> Microsoft says there is no problem, but I would like to hear some real
> experience ..
You should deploy this because you need a platform that is better suited for
the 64 bit environment i.e. better memory usage, better processors etc.

> thanks
> Julio M
>
John