what is the best way to copy database from 2012 to 2008r2

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what is the best way to copy database from 2012 to 2008r2

rajborntodare

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September 4, 2013 at 12:31 pm

#276940

Hi Everyone
I am asked to copy and move database from 2012 instance to 2008r2 instance; those are on separate VM(virtual machine)
i know backup and restore does not work in this case.
i am trying to do it by using Generate scripts option, i am not sure how long its going to be succeed.
I tried Export and import tool, but i failed, may be due to my inefficiency of operating the tool
May i know what is the best way to do this job??
:hehe:

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Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 1

Script all objects (not the data, just the objects)

Create the new database

Use import/export, SSIS or bcp to move the data

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

rajborntodare Hall of Fame Points: 3576 More actions · Answer 2

Hi Gail,

I generated the scripts and executing the query already,

I will follow your whole idea and let you know

rajborntodare Hall of Fame Points: 3576 More actions · Answer 3

Hi Guys,

i have just finished with copying the DB from 2012 to 2008r2,

'

i chose a hard and lengthy method other than Gail recomended,

But i would say +1 for gail,

I generated the scripts along with schema and Data by changing it in the options.

I would prefer to follows gail's style instead wat i did from next time.....

Thanks,

Raj

:hehe:

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 4

rajborntodare (9/4/2013)
I generated the scripts along with schema and Data by changing it in the options.

That works OK for tiny databases. Over a couple hundred MB, that generally crashes Management Studio.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

rajborntodare Hall of Fame Points: 3576 More actions · Answer 5

That works OK for tiny databases. Over a couple hundred MB, that generally crashes Management Studio.

Ok thats a TIP....

I will remember that....

Thank u Gail

swwg69 SSC Veteran Points: 294 More actions · Answer 6

The hardest part for a non-trivial database is making sure the tables are built in the correct order to maintain RI. You can script out the table structures etc and build the new database, OK.

You can set the flag to allow index insertion, but if a record references a a table that is still empty... 🙁

rajborntodare Hall of Fame Points: 3576 More actions · Answer 7

Hi Swwg

When i tried to migrate it by using Export import tool, i got the same prob,

I couldnt get the whole schema as it was in source, so i tried with generating scripts.

It did gave me exact schema to target as source

Steve-3_5_7_9 SSChampion Points: 10832 More actions · Answer 8

swwg69 (9/5/2013)
The hardest part for a non-trivial database is making sure the tables are built in the correct order to maintain RI. You can script out the table structures etc and build the new database, OK.
You can set the flag to allow index insertion, but if a record references a a table that is still empty... 🙁

Actually when doing any kind of bulk load, you should drop the fk constraints, then load and finally add the constraints. You won't need to worry about parent/child relationships and the load will happen faster.