can I administrate a ms sql server 2005 database with management studio 2008?

This may be a dumb question. My excuse is I’m not a trained DB admin.

At work we have a server running an ms sql 2005 database. I use ms sql server management studio express 2005 to access it, but could I just as easilly use the 2008 edition? Would it be safe, and not try to “do 2008 things to 2005 server and break it”?

Yes you can. I admin SQL 2000 with it too.

I believe it just simply won’t let you do 2008-specific things with it.

Brilliant.

That’ll be something for me to do tomorrow at work… uninstall 2005 and install 2008.

there might be little or no difference (I don’t know) but I like to have the latest stuff. I’m like that.

On a seperate note I installed server 2008 express on my home computer and after some messing about I’ve managed to access it via php and a codegear c++ builder application.

Having it at home should be useful for learning to use it.

administrate? GAH!

Well I used the word to make what I do sound all important.

Are you saying that MSSQLMSE isn’t a great tool for administrating?

Correct. It is, however, quite good for database administration.

One thing you lose with the 2008 studio and a 2000 db is the current activity monitor. I think it’s okay if the db is 2005. I discovered that on Friday when I installed the 2008 client tools, thought everything was good so uninstalled the 2005 tools. I like to look at the activity on our 2000 db sometimes so I guess I’ll be reinstalling the 2005 studio tomorrow.

You must not be managing any DTS packages.

There’s a stand-alone package called DTS designer that you can use to manage DTS packages from legacy versions of SQL Server.

We fight ignorance here. Can you show me a link to that?
If you’re talking about DTS Designer Components; um yeah; good luck with that.

That is what I was talking about, the designer components. I have not used them and was not aware that they were less than reliable.