SQL Server Performance Forum – Threads Archive

Server Replacement using log shipping

Hello Experts, We are going to replace our production servers with the new ones. We have procedure that will guide us step by step to complete this process.
The process was like this:
1- Put a new server with a temp computername on the network
2- Backup User databases on old server and restore on new one.
3- Create a job that will have 2 steps (log shipping)
a- Take transaction log backup
b- Restore trn log onto new server.
4-During scheduled maintenance window, take final trn log backup on old and restore on new one
5- disconnect the old server from network
6- Drop the temp name and add the old server’s name onto the new one But I’m asked if we can used existing datafiles on SAN for new server?
The old server is connected to SAN and that’s where the datafiles and logfiles are…Is there a way to use existing SAN storage that contains datafiles for the new server…on the new server can we install sql and then somehow point the server to the existing databases that are on san? if so, what happens Please advice!

Yes, you can present existing drives to new server but it depends on your SAN and server configuration.
Check with your system/SAN engineer… http://vyaskn.tripod.com/moving_sql_server.htm
MohammedU.
Moderator
SQL-Server-Performance.com

quote:Originally posted by MohammedU Yes, you can present existing drives to new server but it depends on your SAN and server configuration.
Check with your system/SAN engineer… http://vyaskn.tripod.com/moving_sql_server.htm Hi Muhammad, I used above link to prepare the steps but am not sure about using exiting datafiles for the new server…
Do you think, I would still have to do a restore onto new server? How is it going to find out about the existing DBs on SAN..? Network guys are asking me if its possible? MohammedU.
Moderator
SQL-Server-Performance.com

It is possible…Final option will be backup/restore…. If your system/network/server engineers don’t know ask them to check with the vendor.
I believe presenting existing database files from one to another server changes different company SANs.. http://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid87_gci1213487,00.html
MohammedU.
Moderator
SQL-Server-Performance.com

But, How is SQL server going to recognize the DBs on SAN?
I mean we install a fresh copy of SQL server on the new server and lets say network guys changed the pointer on SAN to the new server…aren’t there steps involved from our side to somehow make SQL recognize that the user databases are on a certain location and think of the DBs as local DBs????

You could detach the databases from the old server and attach them onto the new one.

quote:Originally posted by thomas You could detach the databases from the old server and attach them onto the new one.

What woulb be my downtime? is it depending on the size or fairly quick?

If you’re going to be using the same SAN for the old and the new server, the downtime will be minimal as you won’t have to copy the data anywhere. You just prepare a script for the detach and then the attach and run them at the appropriate times. you need to make sure you fix your SQL authentication users afterwards.

quote:Originally posted by thomas You just prepare a script for the detach and then the attach and run them at the appropriate times. you need to make sure you fix your SQL authentication users afterwards.

Thanks a lot Thomas!!!
For SQL accounts I can script out the accts along with passwords from old server and then run the script on the new and that should take care of that…right?

You can use the script to move the logins…You may need to restore msdb too … How to transfer logins and passwords between instances of SQL Server
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/246133
MohammedU.
Moderator
SQL-Server-Performance.com

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by thomas If you’re going to be using the same SAN for the old and the new server, the downtime will be minimal as you won’t have to copy the data anywhere. You just prepare a script for the detach and then the attach and run them at the appropriate times. you need to make sure you fix your SQL authentication users afterwards. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Thanks a lot Experts [<img src=’/community/emoticons/emotion-1.gif’ alt=’

‘ />] I will try this method on an external hard drive and on a test server to see if detach/attach work …

]]>