SQL Server 2008 maximum size on FAT32

Question

Hi all,

I am running WinXP with a FAT32 file system.

Does FAT32's max. file size limit of 4GB apply on the max. database size I can have?

(I have SQL Server 2008 Developer Edition, I know the free editions restrict DB size to 4GB, having nothing to do with the file system)

Thanks for any info

Answer 1

The FAT file limit applies to all files, no matter whether a database file or a video file.

So "yes"

Answer 2

According to http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/editions.aspx, you are limited with the size of your Developer Edition databases, but to something like 524PB. Given the FAT32 limitations, though, you're going to have to split your database across multiple files / filegroups. See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms179316.aspx for more information.