sql server 2000 TSQL: creating index on table variable

Question

Is the following possible? I am unable to do so. Do I have to have a permanent table to create index?

declare @Beatles table
    (
     LastName varchar(20) ,      
     FirstName varchar(20) 
    )

CREATE CLUSTERED INDEX Index_Name_Clstd ON @Beatles(LastName)

Answer 1

Not on a table variable, but on a temp table see this http://www.sqlteam.com/article/optimizing-performance-indexes-on-temp-tables

Answer 2

No, you cannot create indices on a table variable - see this article here and this posting here comparing local, global temporary tables to table variables.

Restrictions

You cannot create a non-clustered index on a table variable, unless the index is a side effect of a PRIMARY KEY or UNIQUE constraint on the table (SQL Server enforces any UNIQUE or PRIMARY KEY constraints using an index).