What is the easiest way to move SQL Server 2005 databases from one old
server to a new server?

(bob66k88 (AT) gmail (DOT) com) writes:
Personally I prefer BACKUP/RESTORE. This does not carry on logins,
you need to transfer them separately, and you will need to remap users
to logins on the new server. Then again, if the logins do not exist
on the new server you can create them with help of the WITH SID option.

You can also use the Copy Database Wizard, using the attach and detach
method. Note that it will take the database on the source server offline
while it copies the files. It also requires access to the disks of the
new and old server, to copy files. CDW will migrate logins for you.

CDW also offers the SMO method, where it copies the database by scripting
and bulking. But don't use this method, it's very unreliable, and may not
copy everything.


--
Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, esquel (AT) sommarskog (DOT) se

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