Home Forums SQL Server 2016 SQL Server 2016 - Development and T-SQL SQL Server 2016 - backwards compatible to 2012? RE: SQL Server 2016 - backwards compatible to 2012?

  • November 9, 2015 at 9:40 am

    #1838603

    Bill Talada (10/30/2015)

    All versions are generally backward compatible (a new server can run an older database). The problem comes into play when you are backing up a newer version database and trying to restore it to an older version server.

    I would think running ss2016 at home for you is fine. After restoring a 2012 database, you'll see it go through an upgrade process before it comes online.

    Restoring the database may not be all. Depending on your settings for default restore from backup you may have to set the Compatibility level of the database.

    For example we have many databases running on SQL 2008 R2 that had to be restored with Compatability Level set to SQL 2005 or the breaking changes to the existing dataset types would cause them not to work.