How do I move WSS 3.0 for "Windows Internal Database" (the embedded version of SQL Server 2005 Express) to the full SQL Server 2005?
Description:
This text was written by Jim Sykora in a public newsgroup and he has very kindly allowed me to re-produce it here.
Many thanks, Jim.
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This scenario involves moving your WSS 3.0 sites from Windows Internal Database to Microsoft SQL 2005 (doesn't really matter whether it's local or remote to the main WSS server instance).
1. First Fully backup your current WSS Content databases. I've found no way to move config databases, and from my testing there seems to be little reason to do so.
a. Utilize stsadm.exe from a cmd prompt to back up your entire Sharepoint farm:
stsadm.exe -o backup -url http:// -filename C:\SPBackups\FullFarmBackup.dat
(you may want to change the path the backup file is stored depending on your situation)
b. Verify the backup is complete and browse to the location the backup file is stored to verify it exists and is of a reasonable size.
2. Uninstall WSS 3.0 from Add/Remote Programs Control Panel
3. *IMPORTANT* Remove Windows Internal Database -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/920277
If you were utilizing a single-server, basic WSS 3.0 installation and uninstall it, it will leave behind the Windows Internal Database, which will cause any new installations of WSS 3.0 to have issues.
4. Reboot the server to finish up any uninstall scripts.
5. Make sure your SQL 2005 database is prepped per the instructions for installing a WSS 3.0 Server Farm and then install using the steps for a server farm (even if you'll only be installing on a single server).
a.
http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer/WSS/en/library/89e4c579-5720-45e
0-917e-abeb95266c3e1033.mspx
b.
http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/WSS/en/library/1f505e96-60e2-41a
c-bf5d-9739105f047c1033.mspx?mfr=true
6. Once everything is installed and you're using the SharePoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard to configure sharepoint make sure to point it to your existing SQL server as you go through the steps.
7. Upon completion of the wizard use WSS 3.0 Central Administration page to configure your basic settings such as Incoming and outgoing email settings, logging, search server, etc.
8. In Central Administration->Application Management choose "Create or Extend Web Application" to create your IIS instance. Follow the standard steps here.
9. In Central Administration->Content Databases choose "Add a content database" and use your SQL server. Don't forget to select your search server that you set up earlier. This will create an empty content
database which we will restore our site from step 1 to.
10. Open a command prompt again. Use stsadm.exe to restore your site farm:
ststadm.exe -o restore -url http:// -filename C:\SPBackups\FullFarmBackup.dat
This step will take a little bit, but should say Operation Completed Successfully at the end. You should now be able to access your sharepoint site again using the new SQL server database location.
This should also work as a disaster recovery process starting at step 2 being that you should have daily or weekly scheduled sharepoint backups using stsadm (and at least monthly SQL database backups to help with SQL performance and log management).
Later: Boris Gomiunik has a blog item on the way he did this here -
http://webborg.blogspot.com/2007/06/reinstalling-sharepoint-wss3-to-run.html