Upgrade from SQLServer Express to Full Version

SQLServerCentral is supported by Red Gate Software Ltd.

Popular Topics

Home

Members

Calendar

Who's On

Home » SQL Server 2008 » SQL Server 2008 Administration » Upgrade from SQLServer Express to Full...

12 posts, Page 1 of 2

1 2 »»

Upgrade from SQLServer Express to Full Version

Rate Topic

Display Mode

Topic Options

Author

Message

david.holley

Posted Thursday, August 09, 2012 12:15 PM

SSC-Enthusiastic

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 10:42 AM
Points: 105, Visits: 194

How easy is it to move a production server from SQLServer Express to the full version? Is it just a matter of installing the full version and then doing a backup/restore to move the databases from the SQLExpress instances to the new instance?

Post #1342915

opc.three

Posted Tuesday, August 14, 2012 1:07 PM

SSCertifiable

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 7:22 AM
Points: 6,693, Visits: 11,707

That's one way to do it. After restoring consider changing the AUTO_CLOSE property on your database(s) to False.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
There are no special teachers of virtue, because virtue is taught by the whole community. --Plato

Believe you can and you're halfway there. --Theodore Roosevelt

Everything Should Be Made as Simple as Possible, But Not Simpler --Albert Einstein

The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them. --Albert Einstein

1 apple is not exactly 1/8 of 8 apples. Because there are no absolutely identical apples. --Giordy

Post #1344976

david.holley

Posted Tuesday, August 14, 2012 1:19 PM

SSC-Enthusiastic

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 10:42 AM
Points: 105, Visits: 194

opc.three (8/14/2012)

That's one way to do it. After restoring consider changing the AUTO_CLOSE property on your database(s) to False.

:: cough ::

Some of the other ways...?

Post #1344983

opc.three

Posted Tuesday, August 14, 2012 1:23 PM

SSCertifiable

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 7:22 AM
Points: 6,693, Visits: 11,707

Same as any migration:

- detach + copy + attach
- Copy Database Wizard
- others

Backup/restore is typically what I use to bring a DB to a new instance.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
There are no special teachers of virtue, because virtue is taught by the whole community. --Plato

Believe you can and you're halfway there. --Theodore Roosevelt

Everything Should Be Made as Simple as Possible, But Not Simpler --Albert Einstein

The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them. --Albert Einstein

1 apple is not exactly 1/8 of 8 apples. Because there are no absolutely identical apples. --Giordy

Post #1344989

david.holley

Posted Tuesday, August 14, 2012 1:28 PM

SSC-Enthusiastic

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 10:42 AM
Points: 105, Visits: 194

Thanks.

I was more concerned about installing a new instance of SQL Server (FULL) when an instance of SQL Server Express already exists and then realized that both can exist at the same time. Given that there's now a high probablity that we'll have to bring the new box online with SQL Server Express, I was very worried about issues down the road with the full version. Unfortunately, there are some 'issues' with getting the full version on the box now. I would wait to bring the box online with the full version all at once, but there's a need to move to the new box.

My concern was that we'd have to take the box down for an extended period of time for the full version to be installed, but once the 'issues' are resolved, we can handle installing it over a weekend.

Post #1344992

opc.three

Posted Tuesday, August 14, 2012 1:36 PM

SSCertifiable

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 7:22 AM
Points: 6,693, Visits: 11,707

david.holley (8/14/2012)

Thanks.

I was more concerned about installing a new instance of SQL Server (FULL) when an instance of SQL Server Express already exists and then realized that both can exist at the same time.

Given that there's now a high probablity that we'll have to bring the new box online with SQL Server Express, I was very worried about issues down the road with the full version. Unfortunately, there are some 'issues' with getting the full version on the box now. I would wait to bring the box online with the full version all at once, but there's a need to move to the new box.

My concern was that we'd have to take the box down for an extended period of time for the full version to be installed, but once the 'issues' are resolved, we can handle installing it over a weekend.

I see. Sorry I was speaking with the assumption that the two can coexist, which they most certainly can. Note also that you cannot upgrade an Express instance to a full install so you'll have a side-by-side or you can uninstall Express, then install full if you want a fresh start.

I have never had an issue adding a full instance to a machine with an Express instance already installed. If memory serves, a reboot will not even be necessary.

If you decide to add a full instance without uninstalling Express, once the Express instance has outlived its usefulness you may consider disabling the Express service rather than uninstalling it. I have heard of issues being created with full instances by uninstalling an Express instance.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
There are no special teachers of virtue, because virtue is taught by the whole community. --Plato

Believe you can and you're halfway there. --Theodore Roosevelt

Everything Should Be Made as Simple as Possible, But Not Simpler --Albert Einstein

The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them. --Albert Einstein

1 apple is not exactly 1/8 of 8 apples. Because there are no absolutely identical apples. --Giordy

Post #1344996

david.holley

Posted Tuesday, August 14, 2012 1:40 PM

SSC-Enthusiastic

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 10:42 AM
Points: 105, Visits: 194

Thanks.

Post #1344998

vikingDBA

Posted Wednesday, August 15, 2012 12:19 PM

SSC-Enthusiastic

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 8:19 AM
Points: 189, Visits: 863

I agree with opc.three. You could just reset all the express services to manual and stop them. That way, you could restart them if they are ever needed again, but they won't run normally, so they won't be taking up any resources.

Of course, this assumes you have already moved any databases and logins to the new instance.

Post #1345448