Migrating the Vault Database from One Microsoft SQL Server to Another

When migrating from one Microsoft SQL Server to another, the new Microsoft SQL Server should be running the same or newer version of Microsoft SQL Server, and the Microsoft SQL Server edition (Enterprise or Standard) should also be the same or higher than that of the old Microsoft SQL Server.

In other words, do not migrate vault databases from Microsoft SQL Server to an older version or lower edition of Microsoft SQL Server.

See also Important Tasks after Installation, Vault Creation, or Vault Migration for a checklist of tasks that we recommend to be done with vault creation.

To migrate a vault database from one Microsoft SQL Server to another:

  1. Open M-Files Admin.
  2. In the left-side tree view, expand a connection to M-Files server.
  3. Right-click a vault.
  4. Click Operations > Take Offline.
  5. Open Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio and take a full backup of the vault database.
  6. Restore the database to the new Microsoft SQL Server as a new database.
  7. In M-Files Admin, right-click the document vault and select Properties from the context menu.
    Result:The Document Vault Properties dialog is opened.
  8. Open the Advanced tab.
  9. Under the Use Microsoft SQL Server option, click the Define... button.
    Result:The Document Vault - Microsoft SQL Server dialog is opened.
  10. In the Server name field, specify the name of the new Microsoft SQL Server.
  11. In the Database name field, specify the name of the new database.
  12. In the Administrator credentials and Basic user credentials sections, specify the new authentication settings.
  13. Click OK to close the Document Vault - Microsoft SQL Server dialog and then click OK to close the Document Vault Properties dialog.
  14. In the left-side tree view, right-click the vault.
  15. Click Operations > Bring Online.
From this point forward, the M-Files server will access the vault database from the new Microsoft SQL Server.
After migrating the vault database to the new Microsoft SQL Server, you need to create a backup job for the new database in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio on the new Microsoft SQL Server. For more details and recommendations, see M-Files Backup Policy.