Specifications
Installation, Upgrade, and Migration Strategies CHAPTER 1 19
However, there are disadvantages to the side-by-side strategy. Additional hardware might
need to be purchased. Applications might also need to be directed to the new SQL Server
2008 R2 instance, and it might not be a best practice for very large databases because of the
duplicate amount of storage that is required during the migration process.
SQL Server 2008 R2 High-Level Side-by-Side Strategy
The high-level side-by-side migration strategy for upgrading to SQL Server 2008 R2 consists
of the following steps:
1. Ensure that the instance of SQL Server you plan to migrate to meets the hardware and
software requirements for SQL Server 2008 R2.
2. Review the deprecated and discontinued features in SQL Server 2008 R2 by referring
to “SQL Server Backward Compatibility” at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library
/cc707787(SQL.105).aspx.
3. Although you will not upgrade a legacy instance to SQL Server 2008 R2, it is still ben-
ecial to run the SQL Server 2008 R2 Upgrade Advisor to ensure that the data being
migrated to the new SQL Server 2008 R2 is supported and that there is nothing sug-
gesting that a break will occur after migration.
4. Procure hardware and install the operating system of your choice. Windows Server
2008 R2 is recommended.
5. Install the SQL Server 2008 R2 prerequisites and desired components.
6. Migrate objects from the legacy SQL Server to the new SQL Server 2008 R2 database
platform.
7. Point applications to the new SQL Server 2008 R2 database platform.
8. Decommission legacy servers after the migration is complete.