SQL Server Express limitations

This article states SQL limitations when utilizing SQL Server Express on SolarWinds Platform Servers. 

It is also stated in Every Admin Guide that Using SQL Server Express should only be used for Evaluation and not for production purposes(Except for EOC as it stores Minimal Data).

The following are a few notable SQL limitations you can be faced with while utilizing SQL Server Express. This list also provides specifications compared to full licensed versions.
 

SQL Server Express 2008

CPU:

1 CPU (based on a socket). No limit on cores.
 

Memory:

Maximum of 1 GB for the database engine.

(Note: SQL 2008 Express Edition with Advanced Services includes reporting features, and has a limit of 4 GB for the reporting services. It has a 1 GB limit for the database engine).
 

Database Size:

The maximum database size is 4 GB, and 10 GB for version 2008 R2 and newer.

(NOTE: If you need more than 4 GB, upgrade to SQL Server 2008 R2 or newer).
 

NOTE: For more information on the features that each SQL 2008 edition has included, you can visit Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2008.
 

SQL Server Express 2008 R2

CPU:

1 CPU (based on a socket). No limit on cores.
 

Memory:

Maximum of 1 GB for the database engine.

(NOTE: SQL 2008 R2 Express Edition with Advanced Services includes reporting features and has a limit of 4GB for the reporting services. It has a 1 GB limit for the database engine).
 

Database Size:

The maximum database size is 10 GB.

(NOTE: this maximum database size of 10 GB in SQL 2008 R2 has been increased from 4 GB in SQL Server 2008).
 

NOTE: For more information on the features that each SQL 2008 R2 edition has included, you can visit Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2008 R2.

CPU:

1 CPU (based on a socket) or 4 cores.

The lesser of the two is used.
 

Memory:

Maximum of 1 GB for the database engine.

(NOTE: SQL 2012 Express Edition with Advanced Services includes reporting features, and has a limit of 4GB for the reporting services. It has a 1 GB limit for the database engine).
 

Database Size:

The maximum database size is 10 GB.

NOTE: For more information on the features that each SQL 2012 edition has included, you can visit Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2012.
SQL Server Express 2016 

CPU:

1 CPU (based on a socket) or 4 cores.

The lesser of the two is used.
 

Memory:

Maximum of 1 GB for the database engine.

(NOTE: SQL 2016 Express Edition with Advanced Services includes reporting features, and has a limit of 4GB for the reporting services. It has a 1 GB limit for the database engine).
 

Database Size:

The maximum database size is 10 GB.

Maximum Memory for Column Store

352 MB
 

NOTE: For more information on the features that each SQL 2016 edition has included, you can visit Editions and supported features of SQL Server 2016.
 

SQL Server Express 2017 
 

CPU:

1 CPU (based on a socket) or 4 cores.

The lesser of the two is used.
 

Memory:

Maximum of 1 GB for the database engine.

(NOTE: SQL 2017 Express Edition with Advanced Services includes reporting features, and has a limit of 4GB for the reporting services. It has a 1 GB limit for the database engine).
 

Database Size:

The maximum database size is 10 GB.

Maximum Memory for Column Store

352 MB
 

NOTE: For more information on the features that each SQL 2017 edition has included, you can visit Editions and supported features of SQL Server 2017.

SQL Server Express 2019 
 

CPU:

1 CPU (based on a socket) or 4 cores.

The lesser of the two is used.
 

Memory:

Maximum of 1 GB for the database engine.

(NOTE: SQL 2019 Express Edition with Advanced Services includes reporting features, and has a limit of 4GB for the reporting services. It has a 1 GB limit for the database engine).
 

Database Size:

The maximum database size is 10 GB.

Maximum Memory for Column Store

352 MB
 

NOTE: For more information on the features that each SQL 2019 edition has included, you can visit Editions and supported features of SQL Server 2019 (15.x).

 

SQL Server Express 2022
 

CPU:

1 CPU (based on a socket) or 4 cores.

The lesser of the two is used.
 

Memory:

Maximum of 1410 MB for the database engine.

(NOTE: SQL 2022 Express Edition with Advanced Services includes reporting features, and has a limit of 4GB for the reporting services. It has a 1410 MB limit for the database engine).
 

Database Size:

The maximum database size is 10 GB.

Maximum Memory for Column Store

352 MB
 

NOTE: For more information on the features that each SQL 2022 edition has included, you can visit Editions and supported features of SQL Server 2022 (16.x).