System Platform provided SQL Server

Firstly, it is important to address the reason for the question. The specifics of whether we use SQL Server Express or SQL Server Express with Advanced Services will not impact the functionality of System Platform, so I'd like to understand why this is important to the customer.

Anyway, to clarify, Microsoft does not officially offer a product named "SQL Server Express Core". Microsoft does offer two versions of SQL Server Express: the basic version and a version with Advanced Services. The latter includes additional features such as full-text search and reporting services, which is not required for System Platform to install. The former is sometimes refered to as the "core" version to distinguish it from the version that includes Advanced tools.

What we include with System Platform 2023 R2 is an installation of SQL Server Express 2022 (without the Advanced tools). We only install essential components of SQL Server Express which are selected to support the functionality of System Platform. This can be confirmed by inspecting the installation media for System Platform, where the SQL Server Express installation is listed. The actual program file, named SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe, matches the SQL Server Express available for download from Microsoft's website, with a file size of 272,748 kilobytes. This contrasts with the SQL Server Express Edition with Advanced Services, which is a larger download of 557,247 kilobytes.

We just released a new version about a month ago, so it is way too early for us to be commenting on what will change in this regard in the next release.

Firstly, it is important to address the reason for the question. The specifics of whether we use SQL Server Express or SQL Server Express with Advanced Services will not impact the functionality of System Platform, so I'd like to understand why this is important to the customer.

Anyway, to clarify, Microsoft does not officially offer a product named "SQL Server Express Core". Microsoft does offer two versions of SQL Server Express: the basic version and a version with Advanced Services. The latter includes additional features such as full-text search and reporting services, which is not required for System Platform to install. The former is sometimes refered to as the "core" version to distinguish it from the version that includes Advanced tools.

What we include with System Platform 2023 R2 is an installation of SQL Server Express 2022 (without the Advanced tools). We only install essential components of SQL Server Express which are selected to support the functionality of System Platform. This can be confirmed by inspecting the installation media for System Platform, where the SQL Server Express installation is listed. The actual program file, named SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe, matches the SQL Server Express available for download from Microsoft's website, with a file size of 272,748 kilobytes. This contrasts with the SQL Server Express Edition with Advanced Services, which is a larger download of 557,247 kilobytes.

We just released a new version about a month ago, so it is way too early for us to be commenting on what will change in this regard in the next release.