Downgrade from MS sql 2012 Ent to Std

Rajeev Sharma 1 Reputation point
2022-05-18T13:07:09.59+00:00

I have a SQL server 2012 Enterprise (licensed) in production which is way under utilized. I need to downgrade it to SQL server 2012 Standard (I have the new Keys if needed)

Can anyone help with this downgrade and best practices etc

TIA

---Rajeev

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  1. CathyJi-MSFT 21,086 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2022-05-19T02:48:58.017+00:00

    Hi anonymous userSharma-8512,

    There is no MS document about how to downgrade of SQL Server edition. And there is no direct method to do that, you have to uninstall SQL server enterprise and install SQL server standard. You need to backup user and system databases, install a SQL Server standard instance then restore databases to it.

    In addition, before you downgrade, runs this query in all your databases: 

    SELECT *FROM sys.dm_db_persisted_sku_features

    If above query returns no results that means you are not using any feature which is edition specific. If it returns any rows, this means that this database has some enterprise only features.

    In addition, as others mentioned, Extended support for SQL Server 2012 will end on Jul 12, 2022, suggest you upgrade your SQL server to newer version. Such as SQL server 2019.
    203561-screenshot-2022-05-19-104554.jpg

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Jingyang Li 5,891 Reputation points
    2022-05-18T13:47:13.57+00:00

    You are approaching the end of SQL Server 2012 Extended Support from Microsoft (less than two months).
    Can you look at the solution to migrate to SQL Server 2019 Standard version altogether?

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  3. Tom Phillips 17,716 Reputation points
    2022-05-18T14:15:00.083+00:00
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  4. Erland Sommarskog 100.9K Reputation points MVP
    2022-05-18T21:21:32.007+00:00

    You need to uninstall and reinstall. Beware that even if the server is under-utilitised, you may still be using features that are only available in Enterprise.

    And I definitely echo what Jingyang says. There is all reason to consider an upgrade. If nothing else, lots of stuff that used to be Enteprise-only are now available in Standard Edition. Particularly, this applies to features that relates to the programming surface area.

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