To verify if the "2008 R2" version can be restored back to a "2008" dbserver I make an experiment: construct a database on R2 version ( version : 10.50.xxx ) and backup it; then I try to restore the db backup to a "sql server 2008" db-server ( version : 10.0.xxx ) but get failed.
Error message is as shown:
The database was backed up on a server running version 10.50.1600. That version is incompatible with this server, which is running version 10.00.2531. Either restore the database on a server that supports the backup, or use a backup that is compatible with this server.
Originally I want to upgrade a "2008" server to "2008 r2" , but this problem withdraws me: if I do so , I am afraid all the existing clientuser's dbs cannot be backed up to themselves if they don't have "2008 r2" locally: if a database is backed up under "2008 r2" environment whereas client user only has "2008" db server, does it mean he cannot restore it anymore?
So I wonder if there is an approach that helps me to create a "backward-compatible" database; when creating database on wizard there is an option to choose "compatibility level" but I don't think it meets my requirement.. Anyone can help me on this ??