Need to relocate Merge Publication DB to a new server.

[Kevin J]

I have a number of merge publications on my 2005 DB with SP2. The server is
currently located in our office and I am in the process of setting up servers
in off-site facility. I cannot move the existing server to the new facility.

Is there any way of doing a backup and then restore to the new servers and
have the subscribers connect to the new servers?

The subscribers reside on remote servers which are required to be online 24/7.

Thanks.
--
Kevin J

[Paul Ibison]

Depends on the size of the databases involved, but I have transparently
moved a system like this before...

We initially stopped all replication agents.

We created the exact same drives on the new prod box and installed the same
version of SQL server inc service pack. We stopped the sql services on both
boxes, copied over the database files - .mdf, .ldf, logs etc. Then the
original box was detached from the network, then the new box added to the
network. hen the sql services started. (BTW no subscribers were using IP
addresses/aliases etc).

It was not a simple process but there was zero downtime for the subscribers
and no reinitialization was required.

HTH,

Paul Ibison

[Kevin J]

Hi Paul,

Did you name the new server the same as the original server?

All of my subscriptions use names.

--
Kevin J

[Paul Ibison]

Exactly - the same hostname was used - this is essential.
Thanks,
Paul