I have a SQL Server 2005 .mdf file I need to install on a server. Can I simply install SQL Server 2012 Express and attach the .mdf file without any issues, or should I stick to 2005 Express to eliminate any issues that may arise?
I should also add it needs to support a ASP.NET 3.5 website.
Cheers
If you have all files (mdf, ldf and potentially multiple ndf) and the database was cleanly shut down, you won't have an issue attaching to 2012.
If you have only the mdf it might work but it could also fail.
Either way, first take a backup of the files you have.
That being said, make sure you don't use any features that changed between 2005 and 2012 (see http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143532.aspx for details)
Related
My problem is I am working on a project and its database is created in SQL Server 2008. But I has SQL SERVER 2012 installed in my PC. I cannot import this file into my sql server and also cannot connect this database file with visual studio 2013
Help me please
The easiest way is creating a database backup in 2008, and restoring that into 2012. Should work without any issues, and the restore process will automatically upgrade the database to 2012.
Alternatively, it should also be possible to detach the database from 2008, after which you can copy the files (Do not move them, but copy. That way if anything goes wrong, you have a fallback option). You should then be able to attach it in 2012, which again, will convert the database to 2012.
There's also an option of using the copy database wizard from inside SSMS, which also converts the database.
Please note that if you convert the database, from that moment onwards, all other developers will have to upgrade to 2012 as well.
I am trying to restore a database backup from SQL Server 2008 R2 to SQL Server 2012 Standard. It keeps failing with the error seen here: http://screencast.com/t/UWC58GrVnWI
The web server is: Windows Server 2012
I tried renaming the file.
I tried to restore on another server
on SQL 2012 and it worked fine
I tried to restore on another
server on SQL 2008 R2 and it worked fine.
Considering above symptoms, I strongly feel the database .bak file is good. It only fails on this web server. What might be the reason?
If you read the error message you will find out that it is clear - the location is invalid. Now, if you check the path of folders and know the basics of how windows file systems work.... guess what, you find out that this is exactly true.
Fix the location. Done.
Since we need to move around our database a lot (like update it with new Rows which are generated by code and then update it prod db and reverse process). SQL Server CE, being a file based system was very helpful.
We would like to upgrade to use SQL Server Local Db but at the same time, it has limitations of use with IIS (though possible with AttacheDbFile). In this regard, since LocalDb is more or less a version of SQL Server Express, would it be possible to use our SQL Server LocalDB .mdf in our development environment and then copy them in prod but use by attaching to a SQL Server Express instance?
If yes, what additional thing, we need to do make it possible?
Also, we would like the reverse process to be worked out as well, mean detach the .mdf file and use it as LocalDb in development environment. I have read the great blog articles of
Krzysztof Kozielczyk also but not have experimented much with LocalDb.
LocalDB IS SQL Server Express (introduced with SQL Server 2012 Express), and the .mdf file is identical between LocalDB and SQL Server Express (and even a "full" SQL Server edition like Web, Standard or Enterprise Edition).
The only caveat is: you need to be using the same versions of those databases, since the file format is only identical amongst same versions, and can only be used amongst the same versions (e.g. 2012) - or it can be "upgraded" to the next newer version (e.g. you could move a database from LocalDB 2012 to a SQL Server 2014 Express once it's released) - but you can never go back down to an earlier version (you cannot take a LocalDB 2012 .mdf database file and attach it to a SQL Server 2008 version).
Hi I have a Visual Studio solution and an ASP.NET MVC project that uses a SQL Server Express 2005 database file in the App_Data. I want to know how I can upgrade this file so it works for SQL Server Express 2008 ?
Thanks
You can issue the Attach command in SQL Management Studio 2008. It will name the database with the path to the .mdf, but it'll use it no problem.
The database will be in 2005 compatibility mode, but you can certainly change that yourself as you see fit.
All you have to do is create a backup (.bak) of your 2005 db and then restore it on your 2008 Express server. It's that simple.
If you want to deal with it on the file level, simply detach from 2005 and attach to 2008. If it's solution-created in your AppData all you should have to do is move it to the newer project.
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Looks like this database is actually 2008 from what that compatibility level says so I think I am ok. I figured out how to attach the file in SQL Server management studio but thanks for mentioning about the compatibility mode.
I tried out making a backup and then restoring it using the backup file as a database and it made a new mdf file in the same folder as the original which is what I wanted, wasnt very clear that it was going to do that. Thanks
Is there any way to import a database backup from 2005 into 2008 express edition. What I've had to resort to is doing a script the database, then import all the data through DTS. Whenever I tried to import straight from a backup file it says something about not being to import into a new version of sql server or I'll get the below error.
title: Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio
Specified cast is not valid. (SqlManagerUI)
SQL 2005 backups should be restored on 2008 without problem (have done that myself many times). What exact error message did you got about versions?
The other error (Specified cast is not valid) seems to be Management Studio error, not server error. Have you full rights on 2008 server?
Look at this question - any-reason-to-have-sql-server-2005-and-2008-installed-on-same-machine - there are talked both about restoring SQL2005 backups and about attaching SQL2005 data files.
(Of course you cannot attach production databases. To attach non-production databases just detach them, make file level copy of these and attach copies to new server. Orginal files need to attach to original server too :))
I imagine that you are in a development process where your data will have to be regularly copied to you SQL 2008 server.
You can then think of configuring a replication between the SQL 2005 server (publisher) and SQL Server Express 2008 (suscriber). Depending on your requirements, you have the choice between snapshot or merge replication. If no update is done on the suscriber side, go for snapshot.
Once you want to have your 2008 server running independantely from the publisher, just delete the replication.
A valid SQL Server 2005 Express backup file should be able to be restored to SQL Server 2008 Express. If the SQL Server 2005 backup is from the Standard or Enterprise versions, you might hit problems restoring it to Express. The user context that the backup was created from should not affect the ability to restore that backup.
One thing you can do is to try running the restore operation as a verification, without actually trying to run the restore. That will tell you if the backup file is valid or not. You can use this syntax:
RESTORE VERIFYONLY
FROM yourbackupfile.bak
If possible, I would also suggest trying to simply detach the original database from 2005 and then attaching the file at the 2008 edition.
While I have only tried this with the standard edition myself, it has worked perfectly with the compatibility mode keeping the database set to 2005.
Have you tried running the Upgrade Advisor http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=11455 - it might be able to highlight problems for upgrading the original database.