UPGRADES & MIGRATIONS
As vendors release new versions of their databases more frequently and support for older versions ends, it is vital for organisations to understand the reasons and benefits of upgrading.
SQL Server 2008 is now released to market, SQL Server 2005 requires Service Pack 2 installed to ensure support from Microsoft while support for SQL Server 2000 ended April 2008. Likewise, Oracle 11G has recently been release to market with Oracle 10G becoming the most common Oracle platform in use.
SQL Server 2000 and Oracle 9i still have a significant install base and companies continue to operate quite happily in these environments. While some see no reason to upgrade, others have specific requirements that drive an upgrade path to the latest versions. Prior to upgrading, consideration needs to be given to how the upgrade will be performed and what will be the impact on existing applications and hardware and what will the support requirements be post the upgrade?
An increasingly common requirement is upsizing Access applications to SQL Server to increase reliability, performance and scalability. While SQL Server has excellent tools for guiding users through the upgrade processes, this can have some pitfalls. An application written specifically for Access will often perform poorly after a SQL Server conversion unless it is re-written to take advantage of SQL Server server side power. Access upsizing projects require careful planning and design to avoid project cost and timeline blowing outs.
All upgrades and migrations require sound planning, design and hands-on experience to drive a successful end result. SQL Services can facilitate such conversions for customers and provide an audit of the existing environment, assess effects on hardware and issues that may arise for applications and make recommendations on the best process for upgrading or migrating.
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