Migrating the Simplify database to another SQL server is an easy process that follow the Microsoft SQL Database standards. This is common for administrators for moving the Simplify database in and out of test environments. Most Simplify Suite customers will migrate the Simplify database that was used for evaluation into the production environment using these steps.

Follow these directions to migrate the Simplify database to another SQL server:

1. Open Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio and Login.

Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio is a free add-on for Microsoft SQL Server available at www.microsoft.com

2. Find the Simplify database, right-click it, and select Tasks>Back Up...

3. Verify the Source, Backup set, and Destination. There are some useful options in the Options page (Verify Backup when finished and Perform Checksum before writing).

4. The Backup will be named Simplify (the same as the database source name) with a .bak extension into the Backup directory. This file needs to be Restored on a separate SQL Server, which can be accomplished by moving Simplify.bak to the target server.

5. Open Micorosoft SQL Server Management Studio on the new SQL Server and Login. Expand the instance, right-click the Database directory, and select Restore Database...

6. Complete the Restore Database form and select OK. The To database field must be named Simplify. Select From device and navigate to Simplify.bak.

7. The database has been moved, but more steps maybe required. You will need to return to the terminal server(s) and modify the Suite to connect to the new SQL Server. Open the Simplify Console, and under the file menu, go to Manage DSNs\System DSN (tab), find the "triCerat Simplify" entry and choose configure.  Follow the screens to input the correct server name and credentials to connect with.

Finally, go back to the file menu and choose "Set Simplify DSN". Make sure that "triCerat Simplify" is selected. Then choose "Use specified credentials" and again provide the appropriate credentials with which to connect to the database. This will need to be performed on every server.

 

Additional Information

It is also possible to use Copy/Paste commands to move the Simplify database without using Backup & Restore functions, although triCerat recommends Backup/Restore.

To migrate databases without Backup & Restore, follow these directions:

On the server where the SQL Server instance is installed, go to the following path:

Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$TRICERAT\Data

In that directory, you will find two files that will need to be moved to your SQL Server. They are "Simplify.mdf" and "Simplify_log.LDF".

 

On the SQL Server, you will want to place the files in a central location. In other words, simply not a place that is profile specific. Then, open up the Enterprise Manager, go to the following location on the tree on the left Microsoft SQL Servers\SQL Server Group\SQLSVR (Windows NT)\Databases Right-click on Databases and choose "All Tasks" and then "Attach Database". Use the ellipses button on the top-right to browse to where you placed the "Simplify.mdf" file. Then click the "Verify" button to make sure the database is ok. Under "Specify database owner", you will need to select the appropriate account that will make the connection to the database for use. Normally, the "sa" account is used.