SQL system database move

Question

We are upgrading our SQL and Server OS from 2012 to 2019; SQL 2012 to SQL 2019 and Server 2012 R2 to Server 2019.

I need to know how I can move/migrate/rebuild the system databases from the SQL 2012 instance to the SQL 2019 instance.

I know that you can't restore a system DB from an older version of SQL to a newer one, but I'm also on seeing ways that you can move the data (or such) into the new SQL instance on some websites:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/backup-restore/restore-the-master-database-transact-sql?view=sql-server-ver16

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks

D

Answer 1

Your best bet will be using DMA (https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?id=53595).

This will help you assess your database for Upgrade compatiblity and flag all the breaking changes in the database. Once you feel comfortable with the changes(if any) you can use the same to migrate the Database to Newer SQl version.

Refer the following : https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/migrate/guides/sql-server-to-sql-server-upgrade-guide?view=sql-server-ver16

Please accept as Answer if this helps :)

Answer 2

Hi @DavidKernaghan-6299

You can also refer to this thread which may be helpful to you.

https://dba.stackexchange.com/questions/257082/upgrading-from-sql-server-2012-sp1-to-sql-server-2019#:~:text=Perform%20a%20simple%20SQL%20Server%20Database%20Backup%20on,%28SSMS%29%20or%20using%20the%20Transact-SQL%20command%20RESTORE%20DATABASE.

Best regards,

Percy Tang