DPVMTechLab

During a recent SQL configuration for a VDI deployment I found myself wasting cycles (thanks MD for the word) on why Microsoft does not include 64-bit DSN drivers in Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2.

Sure, downloading and installing the right SQL driver is not that much of a hassle especially if you have it readily available like I do, but it is an extra step.

If you forget to install the SQL Server 2008 Native Client driver, visit the following link to download it now: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=16177

What do you think? Is Microsoft causing more issues by not including the 64-bit drivers or am I just making a mountain out of a mole hill?

UPDATE 12-16-2016

Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Native Client
Microsoft SQL Server Native Client (SQL Server Native Client) is a single dynamic-link library (DLL) containing both the SQL OLE DB provider and SQL ODBC driver. It contains run-time support for applications using native-code APIs (ODBC, OLE DB and ADO) to connect to Microsoft SQL Server 2005, 2008, 2008 R2, and SQL Server 2012. SQL Server Native Client should be used to create new applications or enhance existing applications that need to take advantage of new SQL Server 2012 features. This redistributable installer for SQL Server Native Client installs the client components needed during run time to take advantage of new SQL Server code name ‘Denali’ features, and optionally installs the header files needed to develop an application that uses the SQL Server Native Client API.

X86 Package (sqlncli.msi)
X64 Package (sqlncli.msi)