Compatibility between clients and geodatabases in SQL Server when using an ArcSDE service

You can connect from an ArcGIS 9.3.x, 10, or 10.1 client to a same release geodatabase using an ArcSDE service. You can also connect from an ArcGIS 10 or 10.1 client to an older geodatabase using an ArcSDE service and from an ArcGIS 10 client to a 10.1 geodatabase.

The following is a table that summarizes which clients and geodatabases are interoperable when using an ArcSDE service to connect. Following that are some of the rules that apply to the available interoperable connections.

	9.3 and 9.3.1 geodatabases	10 geodatabase	10.1 geodatabase
9.3 and 9.3.1 clients
10 client
10.1 client

Supported client and geodatabase versions for ArcSDE service connections

Rule for mixed release connections

• When you make a connection from a newer client to an older enterprise geodatabase, you only have access to functionality that is available for the release of your geodatabase. For example, you cannot connect from an ArcGIS 10 client to an ArcSDE 9.3 geodatabase and create a mosaic dataset because mosaic datasets were not implemented in 9.3 geodatabases. This also applies to C and Java API functionality; if the functionality does not exist in the version of the geodatabase to which you want to connect, you cannot use the newer C or Java API function.