SQL Server Migration Best Practices Guide – Get Step by Step Process

To execute any successful operation, it’s quite significant to be aware of each & every aspect involved there. Learning the SQL server migration best practices is exactly the same. Now, in order to get the perfect solution, users need to be aware of these best practices along with the pre-migration checklist & the ideal solution.

This guide holds the SQL server migration step by step process along with its features. This way users can get detailed knowledge of the entire solution. Let’s quickly go through the best practices of users as per Microsoft’s MVPs & other IT experts.

Know the SQL Server Migration Best Practices in Depth

Now, users need to carefully follow these best practices in order to execute a successful SQL server migration operation. These best practices build the structure of your data migration project & a strong foundation can easily handle all the hassles.

A Backup Plan

The very first step is to build a plan B. Users do not know when something goes wrong & they might lose all of their crucial data files. For this, must have a plan B or take the full backup of your database just in case you need that later.

Installation

Now, users need to install the software that is going to execute the entire operation. Note that we are not going to mention the offline manual solution as it is complex & can have severe results. SQL data migration best practices do not involve the manual method.

Assessment

It’s time to assess your database. Make sure that the existing database doesn’t have any compatibility issues with the new one. Because when users migrate from a lower version to the very latest one, they sometimes experience such data compatibility issues.

Data Migration

Now comes the real part, migration. Simply execute all the steps of teh migration without any mistakes. This won’t be difficult if you’ve chosen the right tool & technique. The below-mentioned tool can be a good choice for sure. 

Post Migration Session

Finally, just analyze the status of your migration task & then simply focus on the failed or unsuccessful data objects. Also, make sure that your employees are ready to experience the changes in the database & server.

Challenges In SQL Server Migration Step by Step Process

There are several challenges that users might face in this migration task. Countering these challenges can help users in getting the best & desired results for sure.

Get Rid of Corrupted Database Objects

Make sure that your database does not have any damaged or corrupted DB objects. The reason is that damaged or corrupted database objects often create hurdles in the migration task of the SQL database.

Lack of Core Technical SQL Knowledge

For being a master of SQL server migration best practices, users need to be aware of the technicalities of the SQL Server. Yes, it’s quite tough for new users. Moreover, this is why the automated solution is there to rescue such users.

Chances of The Complete Data Loss

The wrong execution of the steps or the incorrect selection of the tool can even result in complete data loss as well. This is why make sure that you are working with the perfect solution & not skipping any of the significant information.

Read More: Migrate SQL Server Script to Live Database Server or SQL

Significant Pre-Migration Checklist for Users

In this SQL data migration best practices guide, it is time for users to simply go through a pre-migration checklist. This way, we can be sure that our migration task is going to be alright & there are no errors in between. Below is the pre-migration checklist along with the SQL queries.

Pre-Migration Checklist:

• Make sure that your destination server is having enough space to accommodate the data you’re going to migrate. Users need to allocate more disk space to the server if it is not having an adequate amount of free space.
• Affirm the data as well as log file location in the destination SQL server for which you are learning the SQL server migration best practices.
• A crucial step is to collect information about the database properties like Auto Stats, Recovery Model, DB Owner, Compatibility Level, Trustworthy Option, etc.
• Gather the data of dependent applications. Do not forget to stop the application services during the migration task.
• Collect the information on database logins, user & their permissions as well to proceed further.
• Check the database for any orphan users as well as dependent objects i.e; additional servers linked or the SQL Agent Jobs.

SQL Script for Checking the Disk and Database Size

-- Procedure to check disc space
exec master..xp_fixeddrives

-- To Check database size
exec sp_helpdb [dbName]

or

use [dbName]
select str(sum(convert(dec(17,2),size)) / 128,10,2)  + 'MB'
from dbo.sysfiles
GO

SQL Script for Checking the Database Properties

select 
sysDB.database_id,
sysDB.Name as 'Database Name',
syslogin.Name as 'DB Owner',
sysDB.state_desc,
sysDB.recovery_model_desc,
sysDB.collation_name, 
sysDB.user_access_desc,
sysDB.compatibility_level, 
sysDB.is_read_only,
sysDB.is_auto_close_on,
sysDB.is_auto_shrink_on,
sysDB.is_auto_create_stats_on,
sysDB.is_auto_update_stats_on,
sysDB.is_fulltext_enabled,
sysDB.is_trustworthy_on
from sys.databases sysDB
INNER JOIN sys.syslogins syslogin ON sysDB.owner_sid = syslogin.sid

Alternate Script for Checking DB Properties

declare @dbdesc varchar(max)
declare @name varchar(10)
set @name='Master'
SELECT @dbdesc = 'Status=' + convert(sysname,DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'Status'))  
SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', Updateability=' + convert(sysname,DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'Updateability'))  
SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', UserAccess=' + convert(sysname,DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'UserAccess'))  
SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', Recovery=' + convert(sysname,DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'Recovery'))  
SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', Version=' + convert(sysname,DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'Version'))  

 -- These props only available if db not shutdown  

 IF DatabaseProperty(@name, 'IsShutdown') = 0
  BEGIN  

  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', Collation=' + convert(sysname,DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'Collation'))
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', SQLSortOrder=' + convert(sysname,DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'SQLSortOrder'))  

 END  

 -- These are the boolean properties  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsAutoClose') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsAutoClose'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsAutoShrink') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsAutoShrink'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsInStandby') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsInStandby'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsTornPageDetectionEnabled') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsTornPageDetectionEnabled'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsAnsiNullDefault') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsAnsiNullDefault'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsAnsiNullsEnabled') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsAnsiNullsEnabled'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsAnsiPaddingEnabled') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsAnsiPaddingEnabled'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsAnsiWarningsEnabled') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsAnsiWarningsEnabled'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsArithmeticAbortEnabled') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsArithmeticAbortEnabled'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsAutoCreateStatistics') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsAutoCreateStatistics'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsAutoUpdateStatistics') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsAutoUpdateStatistics'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsCloseCursorsOnCommitEnabled') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsCloseCursorsOnCommitEnabled'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsFullTextEnabled') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsFullTextEnabled'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsLocalCursorsDefault') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsLocalCursorsDefault'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsNullConcat') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsNullConcat'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsNumericRoundAbortEnabled') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsNumericRoundAbortEnabled'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsQuotedIdentifiersEnabled') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsQuotedIdentifiersEnabled'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsRecursiveTriggersEnabled') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsRecursiveTriggersEnabled'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsMergePublished') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsMergePublished'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsPublished') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsPublished'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsSubscribed') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsSubscribed'  

 IF DatabasePropertyEx(@name,'IsSyncWithBackup') = 1
  SELECT @dbdesc = @dbdesc + ', ' + 'IsSyncWithBackup'  

SELECT @dbdesc

Check the Orphan Users List Before SQL Server Migration Step by Step Process 

sp_change_users_login 'report'
GO

SQL Script for Checking the List of Linked Servers

select  *
from sys.sysservers

Check Database-Dependent Jobs with this SQL Script

select 
 distinct 
 name,
 database_name
from sysjobs sj
INNER JOIN sysjobsteps sjt on sj.job_id = sjt.job_id

SQL Server Migration Best Practices with Automated Solution

Finally, after being aware of the checklist as well as best practices, it’s time to move further toward the automated solution. However, as said earlier, it’s important for us to simply select the ideal software. You can download this Best SQL Migration Tool from below & then follow the steps carefully.

Download Now Purchase Now

Step-1. Launch the Automated Software & then simply focus on Navigating to the Open Option to begin.

Step-3. Select the Online or Offline Mode for the migration task here to proceed further.

Step-3. Preview the DB Objects before you transfer SQL Server database from one computer to another with ease.

Step-4. As learned in the SQL data migration best practices, Set the Export Options here.

Step-5. Finally, Hit the Export button to simply move forward & finish the task safely.

Tool Features Compliant to SQL Data Migration Best Practices

We can say that there are several features of the automated tool that enable users to perform advanced functions for high-level migration tasks. All these features are mentioned below:

• First of all, this utility has four different modes for data SQL server data migration.
  • Live SQL Server to Another Live SQL Server.
  • Live SQL Server to SQL Compatible Scripts.
  • Offline MDF files to SQL Compatible Scripts.
  • Offline MDF Files to A Live SQL Server.
• Users can easily migrate the database with schema or schema and data as well.
• Ability to perform the migration between two SQL servers within the same network.
• Feature to provide the SQL server selective migration with the help of various filters.
• This tool & SQL server migration step by step process repairs damaged DB objects.
• Users can easily migrate their SQL server to an existing DB in the destination server.
• There is another option for users to create a new database for storing database objects.

Also Read: Migrate SQL Server 2016 to 2019 With Best Tool

The Final Verdict

Finally, after discussing all the aspects of this migration task, it’s time for us to simply go for the automated solution. In the SQL server migration best practices, there are a couple of factors to be careful about. Otherwise, we can say that the operation is quite easy. The software mentioned adobe for SQL server migration step by step process is one of the finest tools in a budget that even IT experts recommend. Users can execute this solution with ease by following the five simple steps mentioned above.