Great Plains Support on MSDE and SQL Express: crossing 2GB or 4GB limits
Historically Great Plains Software introduced Great Plains Select, which was available on Pervasive SQL 2000 and Ctree database platforms, not on Microsoft SQL Server. Later on, when Microsoft acquired Great Plains Software, it decided to switch from Pervasive and Ctree to newly introduced Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Edition or MSDE.
MSDE, which is scaled down Microsoft SQL Server 2000 placed
the limit on its database size to be 2GB.
Then in 2004, Microsoft Business Solutions came out with incentive to
allow Great Plains Standard 7.5 users to obtain registration key for running GP
on SQL Server 2000 platform free of charge.
If you are crossing 2GB DB limit on MSDN, you should consider the
following actions:
1. Purge
Transaction History and then rebuild database.
Good idea to work on file rebuilding level. Purging transaction history, however might
not be a feasible option, especially if your Great Plains users have to look up
into historical data for your customers, vendors, employees, salespeople,
etc. Good idea is also check the size of
company DB transaction log.
2. Migrate
to Microsoft SQL Server 2000 or 2005. If
you are on GP version 7.5 ? likely that this option is not available ? you will
have to obtain new reg key from Microsoft Business Solutions. If you are on Great Plains Standard 8.0, you
will need to migrate to Microsoft SQL Server 2000. If you are on Dynamics GP 9.0 or 10.0 you can
either migrate to SQL Server Select edition or SQL 2000 or 2005 Standard or
Enterprise. Microsoft Business Solutions
recommend you simply to reattach existing Dynamics and company databases files
to newly installed SQL Server
3. If
you do not have support contract with Microsoft and not sure who is your
existing Great Plains VAR. All written
above is definitely cool for those who are current in Dynamics GP annual
enhancement program, which allows you to have access to your Customer Source,
where you can get your new Great Plains version reg key. If you lapsed in annual enhancement, you will
have to select Great Plains Reseller or consultant, sign Change VAR form to
your new GP Partner, and then your new VAR will have access to your historical Great
Plains Registration Keys
4. From
MSDE 2000 to SQL Express 2005. In SQL
Express you have 4GB DB limit, which is good postponing option, however please
know that you will need to upgrade to at least Great Plains Dynamics GP 9.0. Last warning.
If you are subscriber to MSDN or Microsoft TechNet ? you may have access
to all Dynamics GP versions CD images, however these subscriptions are for
evaluation only ? do not use these CDs for upgrade purpose , if you do not have
reg key for targeted version of Dynamics GP
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Tags: company databases, ctree, database platforms, database size, desktop edition, enhancement program, enterprise microsoft, feasible option, great plains software, microsoft business solutions, microsoft sql server, microsoft sql server 2000, msde, pervasive sql 2000, reg key, select edition, server desktop, sql server 2000, transaction history, transaction log