How to Upgrade SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2019 on Windows Server 2019

Learn how to perform an in-place upgrade of SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2019 on Windows Server 2019 and how to choose the right licensing option for your needs.

If you are running SQL Server 2012 on Windows Server 2019 and want to upgrade to SQL Server 2019, you may wonder how to do it and what licensing option to choose.

In this article, we will show you the steps to perform an in-place upgrade of SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2019 on Windows Server 2019 and explain the differences between SQL Server 2019 Standard Edition – Server/CAL and SQL Server 2019 Standard Edition – Per Core licensing options.

Prerequisites for Upgrading SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2019

Before you start the upgrade process, you need to make sure that your system meets the following requirements:

• You have a supported operating system. SQL Server 2019 supports Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 SP1.
• You have a supported version of SQL Server 2012. SQL Server 2019 supports upgrade from SQL Server 2012 SP4 or later.
• You have a backup of your databases and logins. You should always backup your databases and logins before performing any upgrade operation. You can use the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or the BACKUP and RESTORE commands to backup and restore your databases. You can use the sp_help_revlogin stored procedure to generate scripts for your logins.
• You have the SQL Server 2019 installation media. You can download the SQL Server 2019 installation media from the Microsoft Evaluation Center or the Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center.

Steps to Upgrade SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2019

Once you have verified the prerequisites, you can follow these steps to upgrade SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2019:

1. Run the SQL Server 2019 setup file as an administrator.
2. On the main Installation screen, choose Upgrade from a previous version of SQL Server.
3. On the Product Key page, enter your product key or choose Evaluation if you want to try SQL Server 2019 for 180 days.
4. On the License Terms page, accept the license terms and privacy statement.
5. On the Microsoft Update page, choose whether to use Microsoft Update to check for updates.
6. On the Install Rules page, review the rules and fix any issues that may prevent the upgrade.
7. On the Select Instance page, choose the instance of SQL Server 2012 that you want to upgrade.
8. On the Select Features page, choose the features that you want to upgrade.
9. On the Instance Configuration page, review the instance name and the instance ID.
10. On the Server Configuration page, review the service accounts and the startup types for the SQL Server services.
11. On the Database Engine Configuration page, review the authentication mode and the administrators for the Database Engine.
12. On the Ready to Upgrade page, review the summary of the upgrade actions and click Upgrade.
13. On the Upgrade Progress page, monitor the status of the upgrade operation.
14. On the Complete page, review the results of the upgrade and close the setup wizard.

How to Choose Between SQL Server 2019 Standard Edition – Server/CAL and SQL Server 2019 Standard Edition – Per Core Licensing Options

SQL Server 2019 Standard Edition offers two licensing options: Server/CAL and Per Core. The Server/CAL option requires a license for the server and a Client Access License (CAL) for each user or device that accesses the server. The Per Core option requires a license for each core of the server where SQL Server is running, regardless of the number of users or devices that access the server.

The Server/CAL option may be more cost-effective if you have a small number of users or devices that access the server, or if you have a large number of cores on the server. The Per Core option may be more cost-effective if you have a large number of users or devices that access the server, or if you have a small number of cores on the server.

To choose the right licensing option for your needs, you should consider the following factors:

• The number of users or devices that access the server
• The number of cores on the server
• The performance and scalability requirements of your applications
• The budget and compliance requirements of your organization

You can use the SQL Server 2019 Licensing Guide and the SQL Server 2019 Licensing Calculator to compare the costs and benefits of the Server/CAL and Per Core options.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: Can I upgrade from SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2019 directly?

Answer: Yes, you can upgrade from SQL Server 2012 SP4 or later to SQL Server 2019 directly, without having to upgrade to any intermediate versions.

Question: Can I add new features during the upgrade of SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2019?

Answer: No, you cannot add new features during the upgrade of SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2019. You can only upgrade the existing features that you have installed. If you want to add new features after the upgrade, you can use the SQL Server 2019 Setup to do so.

Question: Can I upgrade from SQL Server 2012 32-bit to SQL Server 2019 64-bit?

Answer: No, you cannot upgrade from SQL Server 2012 32-bit to SQL Server 2019 64-bit using the SQL Server Setup. SQL Server 2019 is only available for 64-bit platforms. However, you can migrate your databases from SQL Server 2012 32-bit to SQL Server 2019 64-bit by using the backup and restore or detach and attach methods.

Summary

In this article, we have shown you how to perform an in-place upgrade of SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2019 on Windows Server 2019 and how to choose between SQL Server 2019 Standard Edition – Server/CAL and SQL Server 2019 Standard Edition – Per Core licensing options. We hope this article has been helpful for you and you have successfully upgraded your SQL Server to the latest version.