Sql-server – Move DB/LOG files – Detach/Attach – Problem

sql serversql-server-2016

I wanted to move the MDF/LDF file locations for a DB. From what I read I found I should use Detach/Attach and not just take the DB off line and relocate the files. I did just that and used the below to Re-Attach the DB.

CREATE DATABASE MyAdventureWorks   
    ON (FILENAME = 'C:\MySQLServer\AdventureWorks2012_Data.mdf'),  
    (FILENAME = 'C:\MySQLServer\AdventureWorks2012_Log.ldf')  
    FOR ATTACH;  
GO

Of course using my new file locations which used two separate volumes and not the location moving from.

BUUUT, all this did was put the files back on the original volume that I did not specify. It also put the DB in a READ ONLY state.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

SQL Server 2016

Best Answer

The correct (and preferred) way in my opinion should be

Use alter database....MODIFY FILE - This will update system catalog.
Offline the database
Physically move the files to the new location that you specified in step 1.
Online the database

I have written a script to rename a database - db name and the files -logical and physical and you can use that logic to adjust it as per your requirements.

Note: Before doing any detach/attach, you should take a full backup of the database. See Bad Habits: Using MDF/LDF Files .. from Aaron Bertrand.

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Sql-server – attach database – verify – detach from a script or a batch file

This one was quite tricky. I didn't figure out how to access DBCC messages, but am working on it. Anyway, this Powershell script attaches databases, executes DBCC CHECKDB and detaches dbs.

# Get database files from where ever they are
$databases = gci "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data2\*.mdf"
$sqlCmds = @()
# Parse db names from file names somehow and generate attach/check/detach statements
foreach($db in $databases) {
  $dbName = [regex]::Replace($db.Name, "(?i)\.mdf", "")
  $lgName = [regex]::Replace($db.FullName, "(?i)\.mdf", ".ldf")
  $sqlCmds += $("CREATE DATABASE {0} ON (FILENAME = '{1}') LOG ON (FILENAME = '{2}') FOR ATTACH;"  -f $dbName, $db.FullName, $lgName)
  $sqlCmds += $("DBCC CHECKDB ({0});" -f $dbName)
  $sqlCmds += $("EXEC sp_detach_db @dbname='{0}';" -f $dbName)
}

[void][Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo")
$conn = new-object Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common.ServerConnection
$conn.ConnectionString = "Server=SERVER\INSTANCE;Database=master;Integrated Security=True"
$s = $sqlCmds[0]

# Try and execute the statements   
try {
    foreach($s in $sqlCmds) {
      $ret = $conn.ExecuteNonQuery($s)
      $ret
    }
} catch [system.exception] {
  $_.Exception.ToString()
}

Sql-server – Move database files if database runs

If you have multiple data files for a database and you are trying to move one from one disk to another, I believe you can add new data file on the new drive to your filegroup, and then use ShrinkFile with the EmptyFile option on the file to be moved to migrate data from that file into the other files in the filegroup (SQL Server will distribute across the files automatically). The only problem with this is that you cannot do this for the first file of the database's primary filegroup, which I'm betting will be an issue for you.

Best Answer

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Sql-server – attach database – verify – detach from a script or a batch file

Sql-server – Move database files if database runs

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