Hi we have two servers querying one database(32bit 2005 sql) (one moss server is switched off for now to avoid conflicts) and we would like to make one server to query a new db server with 2008 r2 64 bit sql, we decided to use sql alias on one moss server to avoid complex migration process. my doubt is can i just copy all the databases from old db server and restore them on new 2008 r2 server and create an alias on the moss server. will this work fine? please help!

Hi, Yes you can backup and restore DBs on new server but make sure that the versions of both the SQL should match. Also you have to connect your MOSS to that new SQL server which will create a new Config DB and then you have to add those content DB one by one to the sites to make them working.Warm Regards, Pratik Vyas | SharePoint Consultant | http://sharepointpratik.blogspot.com/

hi I have restored all the db's on 2008 r2 server which were on 2005 32 bit server, as per theory they shouldn't work but they seem to be working just fine? please suggest!

Hi Likki, After you restored the database to the new server, you then need to set permissions to the new server and redirect the farm to reference the new database server. Refer to Move all database. You had already created a SQL Server connection alias that can be used by MOSS server to the instance of SQL Server, then please redirect the farm to the new server by running stsadm.exe –o renameserver –oldservername <oldname> –newservername <newname> on all servers to change the name of the specified server in the configuration database if the SQL Server is renamed. Refer to Renamserver: stsadm operation. Best regards, Emir

Hi Likki, After you restored the database to the new server, you then need to set permissions to the new server and redirect the farm to reference the new database server. Refer to Move all database. You had already created a SQL Server connection alias that can be used by MOSS server to the instance of SQL Server, then please redirect the farm to the new server by running stsadm.exe –o renameserver –oldservername <oldname> –newservername <newname> on all servers to change the name of the specified server in the configuration database if the SQL Server is renamed. Refer to Renamserver: stsadm operation. Best regards, Emir