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Move all databases to a different server (Project Server 2010)

 

Applies to: Project Server 2010

Topic Last Modified: 2010-08-25

If you want to move the databases associated with a Microsoft Project Web App (PWA) site to a different instance of Microsoft SQL Server, you can do so by using the procedures in this article.

Moving the PWA databases is a major maintenance procedure and should be done at a time of minimal system activity. Users cannot access the PWA site while you are performing these procedures.

Note

This article describes how to move the Microsoft Project Server 2010 databases to a new instance of SQL Server while keeping the same PWA site. For information about how to move your Project Server databases to a different PWA site, see Move all databases (Project Server 2010).

The basic steps involved in moving a database are as follows:

  1. Unprovision the PWA site

  2. Detach the databases

  3. Copy the databases to the new instance of SQL Server

  4. Attach the databases to the new instance of SQL Server

  5. Reprovision the PWA site

Unprovision the PWA site

When moving the PWA databases, you must unprovision the PWA site as a first step. This removes references to the site from Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 without making any changes to the site itself. Once you do this, you can reconfigure PWA by moving the reporting database and then reprovision the PWA site.

To unprovision the PWA site

  1. In the SharePoint Central Administration Web site, under Application Management, click Manage service applications.

  2. On the Manage Service Applications page, click the Project Server service application.

  3. On the Manage Project Web App Sites page, point to the PWA site where the databases that you want to move reside, click the arrow that appears, and then click Delete.

  4. On the Delete Project Web App Site page:

    1. Clear the Delete site collection from SharePoint check box.

      Important

      The Delete site collection from SharePoint check box must be cleared or the PWA site will be deleted from the content database.

    2. Click Delete.

Deprovisioning the site may take several minutes. Once the PWA site is no longer listed on the Manage Project Web App Sites page, it is deprovisioned and you can continue with moving the databases.

Move the databases

Any combination of the following databases can be moved:

  • The Draft, Published, and Archive databases

  • The Reporting database

  • The SharePoint Server content database where the PWA site and project workspaces reside

You can move any or all of these databases to different instances of SQL Server. The Draft, Published, and Archive databases must reside on the same instance of SQL Server. The Reporting database and SharePoint Server content database can reside on different instances of SQL Server if you want.

If you plan to move the SharePoint Server content database, you must follow the recommended procedures published for SharePoint Server 2010. For more information, see Move content databases (SharePoint Server 2010).

Important

If you are going to move the content database, you must do so while the PWA site is deprovisioned. Follow the published SharePoint Server 2010 procedures for moving a content database and then complete the rest of the procedures shown here.

Each Project Server database can be moved by detaching it from the current instance of SQL Server and attaching it to the new instance of SQL Server. We recommend that you have your database administrator follow these steps if you are unfamiliar with moving databases in SQL Server. Perform the following procedure for each database that you want to move.

To move a database

  1. Start SQL Server Management Studio.

  2. Connect to the instance of SQL Server where the database is located.

  3. In Object Explorer, expand Databases.

  4. Right-click the database that you want to move, click Tasks, and then click Detach.

  5. Copy the database files (.mdf and .ldf files) to the new instance of SQL Server.

  6. In SQL Server Management Studio, in Object Explorer, click Connect, and then click Database Engine.

  7. Connect to the instance of SQL Server where you copied the database.

  8. Right-click Databases and then click Attach.

  9. Click Add.

  10. Select the database file (.mdf file) and then click OK.

  11. Click OK.

Once you have finished moving the databases, you can reprovision the PWA site.

Reprovision the PWA site

Reprovisioning the PWA site is achieved by adding a new PWA site and connecting it to your existing databases and site collection. This is performed from SharePoint Central Administration.

To update PWA properties

  1. In SharePoint Central Administration, under Application Management, click Manage service applications.

  2. Click the Project Server service application.

  3. On the Manage Project Web App Sites page, click Create Project Web App site.

  4. On the Create Project Web App Site page, check all settings to make sure that they match the PWA site that you deprovisioned.

    Important

    Database names must exactly match the databases in SQL Server for this PWA site, and database server names must correspond to the instances of SQL Server where you reattached the databases.

  5. Click OK.

Once the PWA site is reprovisioned (when the status is Provisioned), the users can return to using PWA as usual.