We are migrating our SQL Server 2008R2 instance from one Windows Server platform to another. SQL Server will remain as 2008R2. The new plaform will have more disk space, memory and CPU.
I am doing up a tasklist of what is required to migrate SQL Server. Below is an outline of what I think are the steps involved.
Are these "best practice" or am I missing some requirements?
Thanks!
1) Backup and Restore Databases – Is this the best option? Use Ola Hallengren Script
2) Migrate Logins – use Microsoft KB? kb/918992
3) Migrate Credentials/Certificates – what is required for this?
4) Migrate SQL Server Agent Jobs – (Object Explorer Details > Select All Jobs > Script Job; Is this process the best option?)
5) Migrate SSIS Packages – (How to do this?)
6) Migrate Database Mail Accounts/Profiles – (Create a script or recreate in SSMS?)
7) Recreate assemblies
8) Recreate Linked Servers
NOTE: System Databases – do these need to be migrated?
Best Answer
Since you're staying with 2008R2 (both source and destination) there is nothing stopping you from just backing up and restoring all of your databases including the system databases. As Shanky pointed out, this would save a great deal of time:
1) Backup and Restore Databases - Is this the best option?
It's an option. If you need the downtime to be less, you can use mirroring or log shipping (or do it by hand) to keep the databases in sync and then migrate during a fast downtime or cutover.
Please note that system databases cannot be log shipped or mirrored and would need to either be frozen or copied right before the cutover.
2) Migrate Logins - use Microsoft KB? kb/918992
If you restore the master database to the new instance, no migration should be needed. All server level logins are stored in the master database.
3) Migrate Credentials/Certificates - what is required for this?
If this is inside of SQL Server, these would be held in their respective databases (and possibly master as well). The one difference would be the service master key (SMK) that would change. You make want to back that up and restore it on the new server if you're relying on automatic key decryption.
4) Migrate SQL Server Agent Jobs - (Object Explorer Details > Select All Jobs > Script Job; Is this process the best option?)
If you restore the msdb system database, all agent jobs will be held in it. There would be no need to script->restore.
5) Migrate SSIS Packages - (How to do this?)
If the SSIS packages are on the filesystem (not default) it would be trivial to create the same location on the new server and copy. By default the SSIS packages are held in the msdb system database and restoring it would get you to the same place, just like #4 and previous.
6) Migrate Database Mail Accounts/Profiles - (Create a script or recreate in SSMS?)
This is also stored in msdb. See #4, #5.
7) Recreate assemblies
These live in their respective databases. If backup and restore is used, this should not be a problem. Any assemblies outside of SQL Server would need copied to the new server.
8) Recreate Linked Servers
These also live in the master database, see #2.