We are in the process of upgrading to SQL Server 2008 once our school year is
over. The plans are to build a new server and install SQL Server 2008 on it
then migrate all the data from our previous 2005 SQL Server to the new one.
My question to the group is since our data is still on 2005 will it migrate
to a 2008 enviroment easily or is it better to put the new box on 2005, copy
the data over then upgrade the new box to 2008 to ensure everything is
working as it should be. We have to keep our orginal box online until the new
one is upgraded so we are trying to make this as painless as possible.
Thanks in Advance for any suggesstions/ideas
--
Wayne Hess

I would install 2005 and then upgrade....


Regards,
Hank Arnold
Microsoft MVP
Windows Server - Directory Services
http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/personal-pc-assistant/

On 4/13/2010 8:30 AM, Wayne wrote:

I wouldn't bother with upgrading to 2005, just to upgrade to 2008 right
after that. Yes, you can upgrade directly from 2000 (unless you are not on
one of the later service packs).

Jeff

"Hank Arnold" <rasilon (AT) aol (DOT) com> wrote

I would install 2008 on the new box.

1. Install only the Upgrade Advisor from 2008 on the 2005 box
2. Run Upgrade Advisor and fix any problems it finds
3. Install SQL Server 2008 on the new box
4. Detach each database, copy the .mdf/.ldf to their new location on the
new box (leave the old copies in their original locations).
5. Attach the new copies of the databases to SQL 2008
6. Test the newly attached databases.

You can essentially leave the 2005 database(s) on the 2005 box and
individually switch over to the new box on a database by database basis.

You could also use Database Mirroring as part of an upgrade strategy if
it is critical that you have a minimum of downtime during the switch.

1. Set up the 2005 database as the principal
2. Set up the 2008 database as the mirror
3. When you are ready to switch over, simply do a manual failover on a
database by database level.


On 4/13/2010 7:30 AM, Wayne wrote: