SQL Server Migration is a mixing process prior to SQL Server implementation newer version to a different location due to strategic decisions (such as SQL Server Consolidation). So in this article, I will explain about things to check before planning to migrate your SQL Server, from SQL Server 2008 to SQL Server 2014.
Before migrating your sql server, there are several things you need to know :
- Your Operating System must be at least 2008. Because SQL 2014 cannot be installed on Windows 2003.
- Your platform must be the same. It cannot go from 32 to 64 or 64 to 32.
- The edition cannot downgrade.
- Remember, you can only migrate from 2008.
Please note that these steps are specific for an upgrade to the database schema and data. They do not include anything regarding the upgrading or testing of an application that is going to be accessing the upgraded database. You will want to remember to test your application and not just assume it will work perfectly even after the database has been upgraded. I would also advise that you perform these steps in a non-production environment first because I often find that common sense isn’t so common after all.
Your upgrade tasks should be to run the following statement:
DBCC CHECKDB WITH DATA_PURITY;
This will check your data for values that are no longer valid for the column datatype. For databases created prior to SQL 2005, this step is rather important to take. For databases created in SQL 2005 and later, the DATA_PURITY check is supposed to be done automatically with a regular CHECKDB.
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EXECUTING DBCC UPDATEUSAGE COMMAND
This one has a place in any migration or upgrade process:
DBCC UPDATEUSAGE(db_name);
This command will help to fix any page count inaccuracies that are resulting in the sp_spaceused stored procedure returning wrong results. For SQL Server 2012, this check was recommended for databases created prior to SQL Server 2005. However, in SQL Server 2014, the BOL entry link lists this command as being applicable for databases created in SQL Server 2008 and later. That seems odd to me, since this command is valid for SQL Server 2005.
This one is a MUST for any migration or upgrade checklist:
USE db_name;
GO
EXEC sp_updatestats;
This command will update the statistics for all the tables in your database. It issues the UPDATE STATISTICS command, which warrants mentioning because you may want to use that command with the FULLSCAN option. Don’t forget to update the statistics after an upgrade. Failure to do so could result in your queries running slowly as you start your testing and may end up wasting your time while you try to troubleshoot the possible bottlenecks. With SQL Server 2014 there is also a new Cardinality Estimator (CE).
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REFRESHING YOUR VIEWS USING SP_REFRESHVIEW
Someone will build a view that spans into another database on the same instance. And, in what may be a complete surprise to many, sometimes these views will go across a linked server as well. The point here is that your view may not be of data that is contained in just the database on that single instance. In what could be the most dramatic twist of all, sometimes these views are created using a SELECT * syntax.
When you have bad code on top of views that go to other databases, you are going to want to use sp_refreshview to refresh those views. So, if you are migrating a database in your environment to a new server then it would be a good idea to refresh your views using sp_refreshview. Most of the time it won’t do anything for you, just like a burger topped with veggie bacon. But there is that one chance where it will dramatically improve performance and your customer will be happy as a result. Using sp_refreshview is a lot like flossing: it doesn’t take much effort, and the end result is usually worth it.
You should have taken one prior to the start of any upgrade or migration, and you had better take one right before you turn that database over to your end users. Also, you should save any output from the items listed here, as it could prove helpful should something go awry later.
Microsoft lists the minimum requirements for installing SQL Server 2014. However, chances are if your servers don’t already meet those requirements then you aren’t looking to upgrade anytime soon. But if you are upgrading, then it might be time to upgrade your hardware as well. You may even consider going virtual (if you aren’t already), which will still require you to examine your hardware requirements.
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KNOWING THE RIGHT UPGRADE PATH
If you are running SQL Server 2000 instances. You are not able to upgrade directly to SQL Server 2014 without first upgrading to an intermediary version. You have two options to choose from when going from pre-SQL Server 2005 versions. The first option is to do an upgrade in place to SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008, or SQL Server 2008 R2. The second option is to do a backup (or even detach) your database and restore/attach to an instance running SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008, or SQL Server 2008 R2. At that point you will be able to complete the upgrade to SQL 2014.
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CHECK YOUR COMPATIBILITY LEVELS
If you have been going through SQL Server upgrades for the past ten years then you are likely to have noticed that the compatibility level does not get set to the newest version after the migration is complete. You need to manually set the compatibility level yourself. With SQL Server 2014 this becomes more important than in previous versions due to the new Cardinality Estimator (CE).
Take a few minutes and read the release notes. They can be useful for you to review. It’s good to have as complete a picture as possible for the new version should something not work as expected, and there are details in the release notes you may not find elsewhere.
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