Problem

One task that you may need to do as a DBA is to move the system databases from one location to another.  The documentation that is found on the Microsoft site is helpful, but the steps are more geared toward moving one database at a time.  In this tip we look at a streamlined process of moving all system databases at the same time.

Solution

There are few Microsoft KB articles that show you step by step on how to move the SQL Server system databases from one location to another location.  The steps for moving SQL Server 2000 system databases is much more convoluted than moving SQL Server 2005, 2008 or 2008R2 databases.

The following KB articles show you step by step how to move the system databases, but the process does not need to be as long as the details show.

• How to move SQL Server databases to a new location by using Detach and Attach functions in SQL Server
• Moving System Databases

Moving all SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008 or SQL Server 2008R2 System Databases

Once you have reviewed the KB articles above, you can follow these steps to move all system databases at once.

1. Update the -d and -l startup parameters for SQL Server for the new location of the master data and log file
2. Issue ALTER DATABASE commands to change the file location for the model, msdb and tempdb database files
3. Stop SQL Server
4. Move the MDF and LDF files to the new locations specified in steps 1 and 2 for the master, model and msdb databases
5. Start SQL Server
6. Delete the old tempdb files

In addition to the master, model, msdb and tempdb databases SQL Server 2005 introduces the mssqlsystemresourcedatabase.  Microsoft recommends not moving this database, but if you do want to move this database as well you will follow these steps.  Note you cannot move the mssqlsystemresource database for SQL Server 2008 or SQL Server 2008R2.

1. Update the -d and -l registry startup parameters for SQL Server for the new location of the master data and log file
2. Issue ALTER DATABASE commands to change the file location for the model, msdb and tempdb database files
3. Stop SQL Server
4. Move the MDF and LDF files to the new locations specified in steps 1 and 2 for the master, model and msdb databases
5. Put SQL Server in minimal configuration mode by adding these two startup parameters -f and -T3608 and then start SQL Server
6. Issue ALTER DATABASE commands for the mssqlsystemresource MDF and LDF files using same path as the master database
7. Move the MDF and LDF files to the location specified in step 6 for the mssqlsystemresource database
8. Stop SQL Server
9. Remove the startup options added in step 5
10. Start SQL Server
11. Delete the old tempdb files

Moving all SQL Server 2000 System Databases

Once you have reviewed the KB articles above, you can follow these steps to move all system databases at once.

1. Update the -d and -l startup parameters for SQL Server for the new location of the master data and log file
2. Issue ALTER DATABASE commands to change the file location for the tempdb database files
3. Stop SQL Server
4. Move the MDF and LDF files to the new location specified in steps 1 for the master database
5. Put SQL Server in single user mode by adding these three startup parameters -c, -m and -T3608 and then start SQL Server
6. Detach the msdb and model databases
7. Move the MDF and LDF files to the new location for the model and msdb databases
8. Attach the model database from its new location
9. Stop SQL Server
10. Remove the startup options added in step 5
11. Start SQL Server
12. Attach the msdb database
13. Delete the old tempdb files

Although it still seems like a lot of steps this will cut down on the need to stop and start SQL Server as much if you move one database at a time.  As you can see moving all of the databases for SQL Server 2005, 2008 and 2008R2 is much easier than moving the databases for SQL Server 2000 especially if you do not move the mssqlsystemresource database.

Next Steps

• Before you move your system databases, make sure you understand the steps as outlined in these documents.
  • How to move SQL Server databases to a new location by using Detach and Attach functions in SQL Server
  • Moving System Databases
  • Using the SQL Server Service Startup Options
• Even though one of these documents shows how to move the SQL Server 2005 model and msdb databases by using detach and attach the ALTER DATABASE option is much simpler

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