asked
how many licenses do we need for upgrading?
hi, We are planning to install sql 2005 and later we want to upgrade it to sql 2008. Can we use same license(sql 2008) for both SQL 2005 and SQL 2008. if we can use it, how do we need to upgrade(inplace/side-by-side).
Yes, as long as the instance is on the same hardware. You can license 2008 or 2008R2 and have a 2008 and 2005 instance on the same physical box just as you can have multiple instances of the same version. If you are planning to upgrade from 2005 to 2008 on another physical box, you have to license both servers, or do the upgrade really really quick. :)
Thanks Trad, What if i install a new instance using the same license,can i access the old one? if not how can i migrate the Databases(Backup/restore or Detach/Attach)? And if we want to upgrade the OS also(from windows 2003 to windows 2008) In this case how about upgrading SQL Server? Do we need to move the backups to the second server,upgrade the os and install sql again?
If you install multiple instances they can all be in production and you accessing all of them. As for the OS upgrade, are you looking to do an in place upgrade or wipe the server and reload the OS? You mentioned a second server. If your intentions are to have a new server running Windows Server 2008 and upgrade SQL to SQL 2008 there are allowances with your SQL license. You can configure the new server, backup and restore your databases to it and do all your testing without taking a hit on your license. The moment you put production users on it, technically it has to be licensed, but read the link @KenJ posted. There are some technicalities you can get away with. If you are looking to do all this in place on the same physical server then you have a much larger headache. Explain what your plans are and I can give you my opinion of what I would do in your case. I do have some experience around this as I recently helped migrate over 100 database servers to a new data center during that exercise I consolidated and upgraded many systems.
You could bring up a new virtual with Windows Server 2008, install SQL 2008 and migrate all your databases, users, jobs, ssis, etc from your SQL 2005 server. You can then test and validate everything on the new server. Then you pick a maintenance window of when you can have the system offline for a few hours and then do a backup and restore of your databases to the new server. You can then have your applications start using the new server. Hopefully your applications are using a DNS name or VIP to connect to your SQL server so that your migration to the new server from an application perspective will be easier. A side by side upgrade it always much easier than an in place upgrade. By doing side by side you can leverage the same license as long as you are licensed for the version you are moving to. In your case if you have a SQL 2008 license and are currently running SQL 2005, and side by side upgrade to SQL 2008 is allowed.
I think the best thing you can do is to buy the SQL server 2008R2 licens and perform a downgrade. Then it should be possible to upgrade, but I am not sure
When the time comes, you can either upgrade the 2005 instance in place, do a side-by-side installation (subject to normal instance licensing as applicable), or do a clean 2008 R2 install to completely replace the 2005 instance. Page 5 of the SQL Server 2008 R2 Licensing Quick Reference Guide covers upgrades, downgrades, and step-ups -
http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/7/0/270B6380-8B38-4268-8AD0-F480A139AB19/SQL2008R2_LicensingQuickReference-updated.pdf As with all Microsoft Licensing questions, check with your reseller or Microsoft if you want to be absolutely sure.
