Can I Install 2008 Beside 2005? 1

[JohnBates]

hi experts,

I'm researching SQL Server 2008 and plan to install it on a pre-production server soon.

2 questions:

1. The server has SS 2005 installed. Can I install 2008 also OR should I uninstall 2005 before installing 2008?

2. Does 2008 have an upgrade utility for upgrading my 2005 databases?

Thanks for your help. John

 

[mrdenny]

Yes you can install SQL 2008 side by side of SQL 2005. If the SQL 2005 instance is the default instance then the SQL 2008 instance will need to be a named instance.

If you install over the existing SQL 2005 instance then the databases will be upgraded. If you detach the databases from the SQL 2005 instance and attach them to the SQL 2008 instance (or backup the database from the SQL 2005 database and restore it to the SQL 2008 instance) the SQL 2008 instance will upgrade the database automatically.

This upgrade is a one way process and can't be reversed so be careful when you do it.

Denny
MVP
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / SQL 2005 BI / SQL 2008 DBA / SQL 2008 DBD / SQL 2008 BI / MWSS 3.0: Configuration / MOSS 2007: Configuration)
MCITP (SQL 2005 DBA / SQL 2008 DBA / SQL 2005 DBD / SQL 2008 DBD / SQL 2005 BI / SQL 2008 BI)

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