Installing SQL server 2012 with 2008 R2
I have a test server on a VM running SQL Server 2008 R2 express. I have a development server on my local machine also 2008 R2. I recently got access to a instance of the Full Standard Version SQL 2012. My company wants me to move my data there. When I access the 2012 instance I get an error, something about my backend not being the right version. Ok fine, I have a MSDN subscription so I go out to get SQL Management Studio 2012 they have it but, I believe I will still need the 2008 R2 to connect with my test/development server. I am concerned because at one point I had 2010 on my machine and 2008 R2 on my VM and I believe there was a problem when I tried to connect a 2008 R2 database to SQL Server 2010 or visa versa. I had to install 2008 R2 on both so I could debug/develop on my local machine and allow user testing on the VM. So two questions. Can I install both MSSMS 2012 and MSSMS 2008 R2 on my local computer? Do I need to? Thanks for you time and advise.    
  • Edited by Salmmer 9 hours 45 minutes ago
August 24th, 2015 5:22pm

I have a test server on a VM running SQL Server 2008 R2 express. I have a development server on my local machine also 2008 R2. I recently got access to a instance of the Full Standard Version SQL 2012. My company wants me to move my data there. When I access the 2012 instance I get an error, something about my backend not being the right version. Ok fine, I have a MSDN subscription so I go out to get SQL Management Studio 2012 they have it but, I believe I will still need the 2008 R2 to connect with my test/development server. I am concerned because at one point I had 2010 on my machine and 2008 R2 on my VM and I believe there was a problem when I tried to connect a 2008 R2 database to SQL Server 2010 or visa versa. I had to install 2008 R2 on both so I could debug/develop on my local machine and allow user testing on the VM. So two questions. Can I install both MSSMS 2012 and MSSMS 2008 R2 on my local computer? Do I need to? Thanks for you time and advise.    

Hi Salmmer,

You can manage SQL Server 2008 R2 from the SQL Server 2012 Management Studio. You'll be fine installing the client tools. I don't believe you can connect to SQL 2012 from 2008 SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio). But again, you should be fine installing SSMS 2012. In fact, SSMS 2014 will be fine for SQL 2008 as well. :)

As a side note, SQL Server 2010 is not a product. SharePoint 2010 is. I wonder if this is what you meant?

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August 24th, 2015 5:38pm

Hello,

You can use SSMS 2008 R2 to manage both instances, and you can also manage both instances using SSMS 2012. However, if you use Maintenance Plans, update SQL Server 2012 maintenance plans with SSMS 2012, and the same with Maintenance Plans for SQL Server 2008 R2, they should be modified only with SSMS 2008.

Additionally, you need to consider that you cannot restore a backup coming from SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2008 R2, because SQL Server wont allow it. It is considered a downgrade. The same applies to attaching a SQL Server 2012 database into SQL Server 2008 R2.



Hope this helps.



Regards,

Alberto Morillo
SQLCoffee.com


August 24th, 2015 6:52pm

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