Considerations for Upgrading Analysis Services
Upgrade is performed by SQL Server Setup. SQL Server Setup can be used to upgrade any or all of its components, including Analysis Services.
This topic highlights important considerations that you should be aware of before you upgrade Analysis Services. For step-by-step instructions on how to start Setup and select the components to upgrade, see Upgrading to SQL Server 2008 R2. For information about command-line options for upgrading Analysis Services, see How to: Install SQL Server 2008 R2 from the Command Prompt.
SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services offers the same level of functionality as a SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services. If you already use SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services, upgrading will not increase the feature set that is available. However, if you are upgrading from SQL Server 2000 or SQL Server 2005, you will benefit from the many new improvements added in SQL Server 2008. For more information about the features that were introduced or enhanced in SQL Server 2008, see Upgrade (Analysis Services).
Important
To learn which Analysis Services features and functionality have been discontinued, deprecated, or changed see SQL Server Analysis Services Backward Compatibility.
Known Upgrade Issues
Before upgrading to SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services, review Breaking Changes to Analysis Services Features in SQL Server 2008 R2. It is also recommended that you run Upgrade Advisor as described in Using Upgrade Advisor to Prepare for Upgrades.
Pre-Upgrade Checklist
Before upgrading to SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services, review the following requirements:
Upgrading from SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services
You can upgrade an existing instance of SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services to SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services and, as part of the upgrade process, automatically migrate existing databases from the old instance to the new instance. Because the metadata and binary data is compatible between the two versions, you will retain the data after you upgrade and you do not have to manually migrate the data. To upgrade an existing instance of SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services, run Setup and specify the name of the existing instance as the name of the new instance. For more information, see Upgrade an Instance of Analysis Services.
Upgrading from SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services
When you upgrade from SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services to SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services, because of changes to the underlying architecture, it is best to perform the upgrade in two steps. First, install SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services side-by-side with SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services. Then, use the Analysis Services Migration Wizard to migrate SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services databases to the SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services format. The Analysis Services Migration Wizard migrates SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services database metadata to SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services and re-creates the database structures in the SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services database format while leaving the original databases intact. For more information, see How to: Install Analysis Services Side by Side with a Prior Version and Migrating Existing Analysis Services Databases.
If you remove the default instance of SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services after you have migrated its databases, you can use the Analysis Services Instance Rename tool to make a named instance of SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services the default instance on the server. For more information, see How to: Rename an Instance of Analysis Services.
To upgrade SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services
Install a named instance of SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services by using the SQL Server Installation Wizard or an alternative installation method. For more information, see Considerations for Installing Analysis Services or How to: Install SQL Server 2008 R2 from the Command Prompt.
Use the Analysis Services Migration Wizard to migrate SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services database metadata to SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services. This step re-creates the database structures in the SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services database format while leaving the original databases intact. For more information, see Migrating Existing Analysis Services Databases.
Process the new SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services databases. This step populates the new database structures with data. For more information, see Processing Analysis Services Objects.
Verify the database upgrade process. Review the upgraded databases in SQL Server Management Studio, and test them with your client applications.
Uninstall the earlier version of Analysis Services if it is no longer needed.