Restoring 2008 backups into 2005 instance

  • hi all

    im soon to move our sql 2005 setup to 2008

    i plan on running the new server side by side on the lan, where i can test everything then when happy restore the live dbs into the test system, bring the live system off the domain, rename the test server and instance as the 2005 was and hopefully have all systems go...

    now in worst case scenario, the new server degrades badly over the first few days and the decision is made to revert back to the old server - at this stage, if i have moved the compatibility level of the dbs to 2008 level, can i simply downgrade there compatibility to level 90, take a backup of the dbs and restore them back into the old 2005 server?

    any advice appreciated

  • ok, from my initial searches it appears you cant !!

    correct?

  • Cannot be done. Databases cannot be downgraded.

    Got nothing to do with compatibility level, that can be changed up and down as you like, however once the database is attached to SQL 2008, it is internally a SQL 2008 database.

    The only way a database can be moved down-version is by scripting all objects, exporting all data and recreating the DB.

    Consider keeping a pre-upgrade backup of the SQL 2005 database. Worst case you need to go back you can use something like RedGate's SQLDataCompare to sync data from the new server back to the SQL 2005 one.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • thanks Gail, i was just assuming i could, all the better i decided to ask the question!!

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