ARM Support included with SQL Server 2025 and SSMS 22

Microsoft SQL Server 2025 now has support for ARM64. SQL Server 2025 will install and run on ARM64 computers, although under emulation as an X64 process. This is a significant step forward, as it allows SWLog to run on ARM64 computers. Fortunately SWLog is not a database intensive application, so the performance impact of running SQL Server under emulation is minimal.

ARM64 Compatibility Status

All ARM64 computers running Windows can run x86 and x64 applications via emulation. While the goal is to have all applications running as native ARM64, this is not always possible. The following table shows the compatibility status of SWLog on ARM64 computers:

PROGRAM	COMPATIBILITY	REASON
Audio Encoder	ARM64 Native
Check Database	ARM64 Native
Flip Clock	ARM64 Native
GPS Sync	ARM64 Native
PSKReporter.Bridge	Via Emulation	The DLL provided by PSK Reporter is only available for 32-bit x86
Radio Control (Legacy)	Via Emulation	x64 only; being a legacy application, no effort has been made to port it to ARM64
Radio Control Desktop	Via Emulation	OmniRig is 32-bit x86 only
Radio Control Server	ARM64 Native
Radio Control Server.Shim	Via Emulation	OmniRig is 32-bit x86 only
Report Viewer	Via Emulation	The report viewer engine is only available as x64
SDRSharp.Plugin.SWLogVSP	Via Emulation	SDR# is available for x86 and x64, but currently not ARM64
SWLog (main logging program)	ARM64 Native
Web Control Server	ARM64 Native
WiNRADiO Plug-In	Via Emulation	The WiNRADiO application is 32-bit x86

As Windows on ARM becomes more popular, hopefully these compatibility issues will be resolved and the entire suite can run as ARM64 native. Fortunately, the underlying Microsoft Prism emulators perform decently well. In testing, there are no apparent stutters or hangs for the emulated applications. The testing hardware is an older Samsung Galaxy Go with 8GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 processor, a system that is far slower than a modern Windows on ARM computer.

SWLog is supported on the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 and Snapdragon X series running Windows 11 24H2 or later. 24H2 or later is required because of the need for the underlying x86/x64 emulation. A minimum of 8GB of RAM is required.