Move Master & Resource databases in SQL Server 2005

Move Master & Resource databases in SQL Server 2005

The Resource database depends on the location of the master database. The Resource data and log files must reside together and must be in the same location as the master data file (master.mdf). Therefore, if you move the master database, you must also move the Resource database to the same location as the master data file. Do not put the Resource database in either compressed or encrypted NTFS file system folders. Doing so will hinder performance and prevent upgrades. To move the master and Resource databases, follow these steps.

From the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2005, point to Configuration Tools, and then click SQL Server Configuration Manager.

In the SQL Server 2005 Services node, right-click the instance of SQL Server (for example, SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER)) and choose Properties.

In the SQL Server (instance_name) Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab.

Edit the Startup Parameters values to point to the planned location for the master database data and log files, and click OK. Moving the error log file is optional.

The parameter value for the data file must follow the -d parameter and the value for the log file must follow the -l parameter. The following example shows the parameter values for the default location of the master data and log files.

-dC:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\DATA\master.mdf;-eC:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\LOG\ERRORLOG;-lC:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\DATA\mastlog.ldf

If the planned relocation for the master data and log files is E:\SQLData, the parameter values would be changed as follows:

-dE:\SQLData\master.mdf;-eC:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\LOG\ERRORLOG;-lE:\SQLData\mastlog.ldf

Stop the instance of SQL Server by right-clicking the instance name and choosing Stop.

Move the master.mdf and mastlog.ldf files to the new location.

Start the instance of SQL Server in master-only recovery mode by entering one of the following commands at the command prompt. The parameters specified in these commands are case sensitive. The commands fail when the parameters are not specified as shown.

For the default (MSSQLSERVER) instance, run the following command.

NET START MSSQLSERVER /f /T3608

For a named instance, run the following command.

NET START MSSQL$instancename /f /T3608

Using sqlcmd commands or SQL Server Management Studio, run the following statements. Change the FILENAME path to match the new location of the master data file. Do not change the name of the database or the file names.

ALTER DATABASE mssqlsystemresource

    MODIFY FILE (NAME=data, FILENAME= 'new_path_of_master\mssqlsystemresource.mdf');

GO

ALTER DATABASE mssqlsystemresource

    MODIFY FILE (NAME=log, FILENAME= 'new_path_of_master\mssqlsystemresource.ldf');

GO

Move the mssqlsystemresource.mdf and mssqlsystemresource.ldf files to the new location.

Set the Resource database to read-only by running the following statement.

ALTER DATABASE mssqlsystemresource SET READ_ONLY;

Exit the sqlcmd utility or SQL Server Management Studio.

Stop the instance of SQL Server.

Restart the instance of SQL Server.

Verify the file change for the master database by running the following query. The Resource database metadata cannot be viewed by using the system catalog views or system tables.

SELECT name, physical_name AS CurrentLocation, state_desc

FROM sys.master_files

WHERE database_id = DB_ID('master');

GO

Moving the tempdb database

tempdb is re-created each time the instance of SQL Server is started, you do not have to physically move the data and log files. The files are created in the new location when the service is restarted in step 3. Until the service is restarted, tempdb continues to use the data and log files in existing location.

Determine the logical file names of the tempdb database and their current location on the disk.

SELECT name, physical_name AS CurrentLocation

FROM sys.master_files

WHERE database_id = DB_ID(N'tempdb');

GO

Change the location of each file by using ALTER DATABASE.

USE master;

GO

ALTER DATABASE tempdb

MODIFY FILE (NAME = tempdev, FILENAME = 'E:\SQLData\tempdb.mdf');

GO

ALTER DATABASE tempdb

MODIFY FILE (NAME = templog, FILENAME = 'F:\SQLLog\templog.ldf');

GO

Stop and restart the instance of SQL Server.

Verify the file change.

SELECT name, physical_name AS CurrentLocation, state_desc

FROM sys.master_files

WHERE database_id = DB_ID(N'tempdb');

Delete the tempdb.mdf and templog.ldf files from the original location.