The Database Mover tool helps you move databases from one SQL Server instance to another, preserving the associated data files and the SQL Server logins. With this tool, you can move or copy databases between SQL Server instances or on the same SQL Server instance. You can also relocate the data files for a database to a different storage device while keeping the database on the same SQL Server. For example, you can move a performance intensive database to a faster hard disk to speed up performance. You can also rename a database while moving or copying to another location.
The Database Mover tool allows all moves including moves from higher versions to lower versions and higher editions to lower editions. Note that some features available in the higher versions/editions may not be available in the lower versions/editions. Users receive a warning message before moving from the higher to lower version/edition, and must confirm the move.
Windows Cluster support
The Database Mover tool supports the destination SQL Server instance on a Microsoft Windows cluster with cluster-shared volumes (CSV). The drive must be a member of the cluster group in order to have the files attached to the database and the user performing the move must have all permissions to perform database operations.
How the Database Mover tool works
The Database Mover tool requires your Windows user account to have administrative access to the target SQL Server instance because the tool uses administrative shares to perform the file copy. By default, the Database Mover tool connects to the specified SQL Server instance using the credentials of your currently logged on Windows account, and then collects information about the specified database.
To perform the move, the Database Mover tool detaches the source database to copy the data files for the specified database to the target SQL Server instance. The tool then attaches the database at the source and target instances, and copies the SQL Server logins to the target instance. The copy database and move data files operation leaves the source database intact. The move database operation drops or deletes the source database.
Use the Database Mover tool
To move a database from one SQL Server instance to another:
- Open the IDERA SQL Admin Toolset Launchpad, and then click Database Mover.
- On the Welcome window, click Next.
- Select which action you want to perform, and then click Next.
- If you are copying or moving a database , select the source and destination SQL Server instances and databases. To rename the database during the copy or move operation, specify a new name for the destination database. Click Next.
- If you are moving data files , select the source SQL Server instance and database, and then click Next.
- Specify the appropriate copy or move options, and then click Next.
- Specify the target folder to which the data files should be copied or moved, and then click Next.
- Select which SQL Server logins you want to copy or move to the target instance, and then click Next.
- Review the summary, and then click Finish.