Question on 64-Bit

Forgive me if thsi is a repetitive or non-intelligent question.

I am a consultant that works mainly with smaller companies (10 or 15 users). I am new to the 64-Bit world. With SBS2008 being 64-Bit only, I am concerned that my customers are going to be left out in the cold. Many of them run 32-Bit applications on their servers along side of the OS. POP3 retrivers, Peachtree, Quickbooks (via terminal services for remote), etc., and other....I think I made the point.....

My understanding, and, someone please correct me if I am wrong (and I hope I am), is that you CANNOT run 32-Bit applications along side 64. So essentially NO 32-Bit applications will run on aSBS2008 server?

 Is this correct?

 If so, I feel sorry for small businesses that now have to upgrade, IF an upgrade is even available, to new software. I am kind of suprised that MS would take this turn. At the same time i do acknowledge the power that 64-Bit will bring. I just need tobe sure I am correct about aht I am saying when I break this news to all my clients.

Thanks to all of you who answer in advance.

Mike

Mike,

It is not a stupid question, but the good news is that you are wrong .  You can NOT run 32-bit drivers on a 64-bit system, but your normal applications should work just fine.  There is a technology called the WOW64 that works here to translate API calls between the 32-bit and 64-bit systems.  We run and support SQL, Office and many other applications on x64 systems this way.  Now, IA64 is very different (Itanium), but it is not something that is widespread or supported by SBS.  If you have a SBS 2003 box that has 64-bit capability it will be x64, not IA64.

Now, as far as upgrades go, an "on box" upgrade is not possible, but there are some easy ways forward that I will share in a few days.

ttfn

David