SQL Server 2008R2 migation to SQL Server 2014 - sql-server

I have a SQL Server instance running on Windows Server 2008 R2. The instance is hosting 120 databases. I want to migrate the SQL Server to a new physical server running Windows Server 2012R2 and SQL Server 2014 software installed on it.
To manually back up and restore databases is not a good option for me. How do I migrate the instance with 120 databases to SQL Server 2014?
Thanks!

The only way to upgrade all 120 databases in a single step is to upgrade the existing SQL Server instance in-place. No other way. Even if you have the databases on a SAN, the best you can do is detach from current instance then attach to new instance. Two actions per database, no shortcuts.
Backup/restore for 120 databases is a fair bit of work and depending on their sizes, it could take a long time also. However, it is pretty easy work plus the huge benefit you get is a quick and easy fallback to the original instance if something went bad with the new version. If you upgraded in place, it's a lot more effort to revert to the previous version.

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SQL Server Migration

I have a problem with my new instance database in SQL Server 2014, I installed SQL server 2014 and have restored all the databases I had in my instance of SQL Server 2012, but it seems that SQL Server 2014 is slower. Is this the correct way to migrate data?
An example of that is slower is that if I open SQL Server Management Studio 2014 and try to deploy the database tree of my instance and it takes around 3 minutes, mientrar SQL Server Management Studio 2012 takes 3 seconds.
I was researching on how to support databases and replace all compatibility mode to 120 which is the compatibility mode SQL Server 2014 but still just as slow.
Can anybody help me?
Thank you very much and regards
Backup/restore is common way to switch database to another instance.
You mean connect to the instance is slower in new management studio? you need to run sql server Configuration Manager to enable all the server/client protocols such as Shared Memory/Namedpipe etc.
If you are saying the database performance is slower after migrated to new instance. You need to do some migration work:
https://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/1936/sql-server-database-migration-checklist/

SQL Server Agent not working in SQL Server 2014 Express

I have a restaurant with two computers, on the same network, each computer has SQL Server 2014 and my POS Software (Point of Sale).
Every once in a while I take a backup from my MAIN to my BACKUP computers.
The problem is that in SQL Server 2014 Express, the service SQL Server Agent is not starting, in any way possible, I tried.
I want to be able to connect to my MAIN computer through network.
All SQL Server 2014 data is connected well and working, plus all Services are running well, except for SQL Server Agent.
I see two solutions:
I downgrade my database from 2014 to 2012 and have SQL Server Agent Service Running, however I don't know how to do that.
I fix the SQL Server Agent service and have everything working well, I don't know how to do that either, I tried googling it, awkwardly I couldn't find an answer.
SQL Agent is not available on SQL Server Express edition, only on Standard and Enterprise
If you had SQL Agent running in 2012, that implies you have either standard, bi or enterprise edition.
Downgrading a database to an older version is not an easy task. There is no direct way to do this. If you still have your 2012 backup and very little or nothing has changed since the upgrade, just restore the 2012 database and manually sync the databases (i.e. manually move data). If it's a non-trivial amount of changes, you'll need to do a database copy or export/import from 2014 to 2012.
If you want to setup a scheduled backup of the SQL Express database, you can create a task using Windows scheduler to execute the backup using sqlcmd. For example:
SqlCmd -E -S Server_Name –Q “BACKUP DATABASE your_prod_db TO DISK='D:\folder_on_local_drive\your_prod_db.bak'"
As hinted in the sample, you should backup to the local computer first then copy the backup file to your remote computer. This can be part of the same job (ideally) or a separate job (a bit of extra effort to get the timing right). This can significantly increase the success rate of getting a good backup plus it'll probably run a lot faster too.

What will be missed if report server 2008R2 database gets restored in SQL server 2014

I'm planning to migrate all the SSRS reports from 2008R2 server to new sql server 2014 environment. As far as migration is concerned, I was asked to take the backup of 2008R2 report server database and restore it in 2014 server.
I was not convinced with this since there may be new tables available in 2014 Report server.
The new features of 2014 cant be utilized if the old report server database is restored.
Please let me know if this thought is correct.
Are there any new tables available in 2014 report server database?
What is the best option to migrate ssrs reports from 2008 r2 to 2014 server?.
Your question is a bit confusing, I will assume you want to move the database from a Server A with SQL Server 2008R2 + SSRS 2008R2 to a Server B with SQL Server 2014 + SSRS 2014.
Are there any new tables available in 2014 report server database?
There is no official communication on it.
If you really want to know it you could do a schema compare between the 2 versions.
But do not forget to compare everything, not only tables:
Columns
Stored Procedures, Functions
...
Database structure is not the only thing to take into account, what about:
All the configuration files
Encryption Keys
...
What is the best option to migrate ssrs reports from 2008 r2 to 2014
server?.
Short answer:
My recommended way of doing it would be to use RS Scripter and generate a script on Server A with all the objects (reports, datasources, subscriptions, ...) you want to move.
Then you can restore it on Server B.
Long answer:
If you really want to migrate the full database like you were asked to do, there is no officially supported way to move the database to another SQL instance and upgrade the version at the same time.
You could try to follow the steps to Backup and Restore Operations for Reporting Services, and apply it to a newer SQL Server instance with another SSRS version, but it will be at your own risk.
The supported ways to do would be to either:
Upgrade from SSRS 2008R2 to SSRS 2014 on Server A
Move from Server A to Server B
or
Move from Server A to Server B
Upgrade from SSRS 2008R2 to SSRS 2014 on Server B
Here are the related MSDN articles for these operations:
Migrate a Reporting Services Installation (Native Mode)
Upgrade to SQL Server 2014
Again, I would advise using a tool to migrate the reports and other items instead of trying to migrate the full database.
I do not think restore 2008R2 reportserver db on 2014 will work, because the report definition schema is totally different.
I did a migration task to move 2008R2 reports to 2012. Because there are hundreds of reports on the 2008R2 server, I found the easiest way is to write some codes to read report definition, and then create on 2012 server.
From: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143747.aspx
There are two general approaches to upgrading a Reporting Services
deployment:
Upgrade: You upgrade the Reporting Services components on
the servers and instances where they are currently installed. This is
commonly called an “in place” upgrade. In-place upgrade is not
supported from one mode of Reporting Services server to another. For
example, you cannot upgrade a Native Mode report server to a
SharePoint mode report server. You can migrate your report items from
one mode to another. For more information, see the ‘Native to
SharePoint Migration’ section later in this document.
Migrate: You
install and configure a new SharePoint environment, copy your report
items and resources to the new environment, and configure the new
environment to use existing content. A lower level form of migration
is to copy the Reporting Services databases, configuration files, and
if you are using SharePoint mode, the SharePoint content databases.
If you do an in-place upgrade from SQL Server 2008R2 to SQL Server 2014, then everything should work as expected.

Reconfiguring BizTalk to a new Database server

Here's the situation. We've been running BizTalk 2013 with SQL Server 2008 backbone for several months now. Meaning, our messagebox, SSO and all other database related things have resided on a Windows 2008 R2/SQL Server 2008 Cluster with 2 nodes and BizTalk 2013 has been running with 2 nodes on Windows Server 2008 R2 as well. It's been working great, however it's not time to upgrade SQL Server in our organization and our BizTalk environment is next.
We've already got 2 new servers, SQL Server 2012 installed, the BizTalk SSO components are installed on them (the SQL Servers will also be serving as Master Secret Servers). The BizTalk Servers are going to stay on the same nodes, as-is.
I have not been able to find any specific information on how one should go about switching to a new SQL server for BizTalk (especially when upgrading versions). So as a worst case, I was thinking of this:
stopping all our BizTalk services
exporting all MSIs and bindings
Unconfiguring BizTalk servers
reconfigure to point at the new SQL
server cluster import all MSIs and bindings
start all services again
Is this the correct approach? I know there is the possibility of moving the BizTalk databases, but I was under the impression that moving from SQL Server 2008 to SQL Server 2012 is not a good possibility.
Has anyone done this, or have any better ideas?
Yes, you can follow the guidence here to move the databases: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee378546.aspx
So long as the version of SQL Server is supported by the version of BizTalk Server, which SQL Server 2012 is, you're ok.
The process you describe is essentially staging a new BizTalk Group, database and all. If you don't have to maintain long-running Orchestrations, this is the method I would recommend and take myself in your situation.
I've done both and un-Configure/re-Configure is just easier.

Use SQL 2008 SSRS and SSAS on a SQL 2000 Instance and Database?

The ERP system that I use is "stuck" in SQL 2000. The vendor states that it will not work, even in 2000 compatibility mode with any version of SQL higher than 2005. Due to corporate red tape I cannot use SQL 2005.
Can I install 2008 on the same server as a separate instance and then use the tools of 2008 to create SSRS and SSAS projects?
Can they read directly from the SQL 2000 databases?
If not, could I transfer data from the 2000 instance to the 2008 instance with log shipping or perhaps a simple daily back up and restore?
If necessary, I could set up 2008 on a separate server and then would attempt to move data from 2000 to 2008 periodically and run SSRS and SSAS on that. Would this work?
Any input would be appreciated.
Yes, on all accounts.
SQL Server is absolutely backwards compatible, and can use SQL Server 2000 as a source for SSAS and SSRS. It uses the SQL 10.0 driver, which can connect to 2000 instances with no issue.
That being said, I'd look into using SSIS to bring data into a 2008 instance and star it out, since typically, ERP systems are in 3NF, which is not very suitable for SSAS. You're much better off with a star schema for this.
There is no reason I can see that this is not possible unless you're doing some form of failover clustering, and then you would just need to put the instance of SQL 2008 on a separate server. SSAS and SSRS should be able to access the SQL 2000 database natively with no need for ETL that I can think of.

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