SQL Server Driver Versions, According to MS-TDS

While playing around with Wireshark and MS-TDS, I had a chance to see the different version numbers being sent to the server by the various SQL Server drivers. I thought this might give some insight into determining how compatibility is determined. It didn't, but I thought I would share what the versions being sent by the client actually are.

SQL Server (SQLSRV32.DLL) on Windows Vista SP2 

Hex: 0x08,0x00,0x01,0x55

Parsed: 08.00.341
Product Version (on the dll): 6.0.6002.18005

SQL Native Client 9 (SQLNCLI.DLL)

Hex: 0x09,0x00,0x0b,0xe2

Parsed: 09.00.3042
Product Version (on the dll): 9.0.3042.0

SQL Native Client 10 (SQLNCLI10.DLL) for SQL Server 2008 R2 SP3

Hex: 0x00,0x2e,0x00,0x00

Parsed: 00.46.0000
Product Version (on the dll): 10.50.6000.34

SQL Native Client 11 (SQLNCLI11.DLL) for SQL Server 2012 SP1

Hex: 0x0b,0x00,0x0b,0xb8

Parsed: 11.00.3000
Product Version (on the dll): 11.0.3000.0

ODBC Driver 11 for SQL Server

Hex: 0x0b,0x00,0x08,0xde

Parsed: 11.00.2270
Product Version (on the dll): 11.0.2270.0

For the most part, the version numbers match up with the "Product Version" on the dll, except the built-in SQL Server driver and SQL Native Client 10.

The built-in SQL Server driver is a holdover from the old days of MDAC, where you had to manually install drivers onto Windows to get connected. Starting with Windows Vista, the built-in SQL Server driver truly became built into the OS. From that point forward, the Product Version on the dll would always match the OS.

With the SQL Native Client 10, I have no idea what's going on there. Considering the version number sent by SQL Native Client 10, I can only assume that the SQL Server ignores the version number being sent and that other features determine compatibility. Perhaps compatibility is left strictly to the client. On the client side, I'm guessing that drivers make a number of assumptions based on the server version being sent back as well as various function calls, like the ODBC SQLGetTypeInfo, SQLGetFunctions, and SQLGetInfo functions.

I think I've been nerd sniped again.