Migrate Reporting Services from 2005 to 2008
Hello everyone, I am trying to migrate Reporting Services on a SQL 2005 Enterprise SP3 over to a SQL 2008 Standard SP1 installation. My steps were: 1. Backup the encryption key 2. Backup the RS databases 3. Transfer the key and database backups to the new 2008 server 4. Turn off Reporting Services on the 2008 server 5. Restore the RS databases on the 2008 server 6. Start the RS configuration tool and turn on Reporting Services 7. Reset the database connection using the configuration tool 8. Restore the RS encryption key After doing this, I tried to get to the Report Manager, and got an error that stated that this edition of RS wouldn't support scale out deployments. So, back in the RS configuration tool, I looked at the Scale Out tab, and sure enough, it had the old and new server names listed. I tried to remove the old server name, but it brought up an error. After removing the new server from this list, both were taken out and then I was getting an 'Report server has not been initialized' error message. I re-restored the encryption keys and got back to the scale out error. I'm not trying to use the Scale Out feature at all, and wasn't on the previous server either. So, how do I complete the RS migration? Is there some setting or something that I need to do to turn off the scale out option before I do my key and database backups on the 2005 server? Thanks in advance for your help. Jarret
May 9th, 2009 5:15am

I don't think the method you are using is supported. By restoring the old database onto the new server, you will lose thenew SSRS Report Server database schema and render the server inaoperable. You'll need to just perform a SQL Server upgrade and then redeploy report folders, data sources and reports on the new server. On an instance of the old server, try using Jasper Smith's Reporting Services Scripter tool to capture objects on the server and then run the script on the upgraded server. We've seen good results with this tool. The download and doc can be found at: http://www.sqldbatips.com/showarticle.asp?ID=62. Paul Turley [Hitachi Consulting] SQLServerBIBlog.com
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May 11th, 2009 8:33am

I don't think the method you are using is supported. By restoring the old database onto the new server, you will lose thenew SSRS Report Server database schema and render the server inaoperable. You'll need to just perform a SQL Server upgrade and then redeploy report folders, data sources and reports on the new server. On an instance of the old server, try using Jasper Smith's Reporting Services Scripter tool to capture objects on the server and then run the script on the upgraded server. We've seen good results with this tool. The download and doc can be found at: http://www.sqldbatips.com/showarticle.asp?ID=62. Paul Turley [Hitachi Consulting] SQLServerBIBlog.com
May 11th, 2009 8:33am

Hello Paul,Actually, I figured it out yesterday. I went through the steps I listed above, and just needed to add a fewmore steps at the end.9. Open a new query to the ReportServer database on the old and new server. 10. On the old server, run 'select * from ReportServer.dbo.Keys' and make note of the InstallationId value for the non-null record (this record will also have the server's name in the MachineName field).11. On the new server, run 'select * from ReportServer.dbo.Keys' and you should see 3 records. One null record, and 2 records that have values in the MachineName field (these should be the old and new server names). The InstallationId value from step #10 should be in there with the old server's name.12.On the new server, delete the record that matches the old server's InstallationId.For me, the old server name and new server name were the exact same, which iswhy I had to use the InstallationId instead of the MachineName.From there, I just refreshed Report Manager, and it loaded fine.I hope this helps someone. I make no guarantees, but this worked for me, and everything seems to bestill runninglike it normally should.Thanks.Jarret
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May 11th, 2009 10:07pm

Hi, runu into a similar issue and tried the tool mention in mssqldbqtips.com as referred by Paul; But im stuck because even though i give the correct address of my RS(2005 and 2008) i do not get the opportunity to fill in the credentials since they are different on both servers. Any way to achieve this?
December 9th, 2010 11:10am

Hey, I know you posted this a long time ago, but I just thought I would thank you. I was given 45 hours by a client to troubleshoot this issue and managed to charge only 2 thanks to your solution! Thanks so much.
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June 9th, 2011 4:35pm

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