What is SQL Native Client?
Microsoft SQL Server Native Client (SQL Native Client) contains the SQL ODBC driver and SQL OLE DB provider in one native dynamic link library (DLL) supporting applications using native-code APIs (ODBC, OLE DB and ADO) to Microsoft SQL Server. SQL Native Client was introduced in Microsoft SQL Server 2005 to provide new functionality above and beyond that supplied by the Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC). SQL Native Client should be used to create new applications or enhance existing applications that want to take advantage of new SQL Server 2005 features such as database mirroring, multiple active result sets (MARS), query notifications, snapshot isolation, and XML data type support. For more information, about the new features supported by SQL Native Client, see Features of SQL Native Client and Native API for SQL Server 2005 FAQ.