Step by step SQLServer upgrade from 2008 R2 SP3 to 2012

This document is about upgrading from SQLServer 2008R2 to SQLServer 2012.

Useful docs to perform the operation :

SAP notes :

     1676665 – Setting up Microsoft SQL Server 2012

     1651862 – Release planning for Microsoft SQL Server 2012

     1684545 – SAP Installation Media and SQL4SAP for SQL Server 2012

Installation and upgrade guide :

The SQLServer upgrade and installation guide for SAP is also highly useful.

Located here :

http://service.sap.com/instguides -> Database Upgrades -> MS SQL Server

     Upgrade to and Installation of SQL Server 2012 in an SAP Environment

Starting point :

I’m currently running SQLServer 2008R2 SP3.

These are my system information :

You have to pay attention to the SAP release / SPS level you are running. This has to be compatible with the target SQLServer release.

Also, you have to pay attention to your SAP kernel release. The target kernel release has to be compatible with your target SQLServer Version.

In general, before performing the DB upgrade, at least the SAP kernel update should be done.

The SQLServer upgrade process:

It mainly consists of 2 phases.

1 you perform the update using the SQLServer media.

2 you perform the post update tasks for SAP using the SWPM.

Example :

Now , provided all the pre requisites are satisfied in terrms of SAP application / kernel releases, you can perform the update  :

Stop SAP.

Stop the SQLServer db services.

–> Do it as usual using the SAP MMC to stop the SAP Instance and also stop any SAP and SQLserver related services.

Once you have downloaded and extracted the SQLserver medium ( Here it was 51047515 media DVD ) , run the update

Start the upgrade using setup.exe :

F:\SQLSERVER2012\51047515\x86-x64\EnterpriseEdition\setup.exe

And we have performed the following choices :

In the above screen, you have nothing to provide. The product key  is there by default.

Highlight from Matt’s comment about the license key :

One thing to note, however, is that the SQL Server product key is only there by default if you are using installation media provided by SAP as part of a runtime license. Not every customer obtains their SQL Server license from SAP — some buy it directly from Microsoft — and so in that case this field is not pre-populated.

You accept the license agreement.

In the next screen, you choose the instance to upgrade.

The choices will be done by default, based on the installed features :

You validate this screen.

You validate this screen.

You validate this screen.

We kept here the default choice:

We kept here the default choice here also :

With this last screen we are ready to upgrade :

And then the upgrade runs :

Once done, you’ll have these summary screens. you’ll need to restart the Server :

Now the process is completed and the system restarted you can proceed with the second phase using the SWPM to perform the SAP post upgarde steps :

Let’ s run the SWPM to finalize the upgrade :

We performed the following choices :

Generic Installation Options -> MS SQL Server -> Database upgrade Completion :

Once it is completed you get this screen :

Nothing much to say about it as this part of the process is usually smooth and fast.

Before giving the system back you update the stats :

And set this option.

You can  then restart your SAP instance and perform some quick checks.

And there it is. You’ re now running SQLServer 2012.

Should you have external Application servers connecting to the DB server you’ll have to update the SQLServer client software using the corresponding SNAC package.

You’ll also have to check the SQLServer agnt parameters on the DB server as described in the SQLServer installation / update guide.

And then you’re done !