32 or 64bit 2003?

[j17sparky]

Was just about to install 32bit MS server on our new dual quad core beast and suddenly realised; what about 64bit?

Never used or heard anything about it, so is it stable? Driver support etc?

Its a Dell poweredge 2900 btw

[sidewinder]

Its stable but the question is what are you going to run on it?

Most things work OK but I assume any 32bit apps wont actually benefit much, if at all, and some just refuse to work at all

[StewartKnight]

I'd go with 32bit, 64 bit is about bragging rights (which are zero now), and I haven't seen a "killer" 64bit app

[j17sparky]

Hmm... well 32bit it is then for now. Never actually thought about the apps

[Dos_Box]

I'm running x64 on my new Dell servers, but there is a problem with things like Sophos EM which has no 64bit installer. Apart from that no problems at all.

[Geoff]

Only go 64bit if you need the RAM (over 4Gb) so that's basically Database servers.

[klawd]

...or Exchange 2007 which requires 64bit Windows

[StewartKnight]

I hate Outloot 2007, is it me, or is it leaking memory like a sieve?

[tarquel]

...or Exchange 2007 which requires 64bit Windows

Really?

Thats one to add to my "easily-wipable-cache" in my brain for later use

Standalone Exchange 2k7 server it is!

Nath.

[PiqueABoo]

Really?

In practice yes. You can get 32bit version to play with, but MS only support 64bit on production boxes.

is it [outlook2007] leaking memory like a sieve?

Don't have one. You could run memtriage for a while to help verify your hunch.

[everton4europe]

I have found that alot of printer drivers dont work with 64 bit. I had one this week a hp 2550 and 2300 laserjets. both have windows 2003 x64 drivers avaliable for both intel and amd 64bit cpu's.

But in practice the black and white one was dodgy. But the colour one would work. but would not print out in colour.

Then there was the best answer i have had off hp tech support for a hp 3550 printer which they say is 64 bit compatable. but will not work with a 64 bit os. There response was the printers were too powerful for the server!!

If you have multiple servers install the 64bit os. More software will become avaliable in time.

[Ric_]

Citrix supposedly runs a hell of a lot better on 64-bit Windoze but I'm yet to try because I KNOW that it is bound to break the 'educational software'.

I'm guessing an 8-core machine isn't for Citrix though

8-core would be excellent for databases so you would definately benefit from the additional addressable memory. Remember Exchange is just a dirty big database too.

[john]

I don't find Outlook 2007 memory leaky, slow to open on my main machine, but it could be the 3 or 4 addons i have in it not being 2007 approved etc.