Microsoft are stopping support for SQL 2005 in 2011. If you have an existing Autodesk Vault installation, you will probably be using SQL 2005 and that will require updating to SQL 2008. Microsoft’s timeline is available on a link from the Micro Concepts Blog here:
http://microconceptstechnical.blogspot.com/2011/01/microsoft-sql-2005-retirement.html
There are two main scenarios for the upgrade.
- SQL 2005 Express Edition:
If you are using the free version of SQL installed from the Autodesk Vault DVD you can upgrade to the SQL 2008 Express database which can be downloaded from Microsoft. This document details that process.
- SQL 2005 Developer, Workgroup, Standard or Enterprise Editions:
The 2008 version of your database will have to be purchased from your Microsoft supplier before upgrading your server. Please contact your IT Department to budget and plan for this upgrade. If you need to check which version of SQL you have installed, Appendix A in this document (Page 13) has a solution to query your database to return the version information.
Click here to read the full Technical Document
Mainstream support for SQL 2005 is to be stopped by Microsoft this year. (http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=2855) While Autodesk have not made any announcements, we expect all Vault installations currently using SQL 2005 will require an upgrade to SQL 2008 when upgrading to the next release of Vault.
Most Vault installations use the SQL Express databases that can be upgraded without additional software costs. If you use a full version of SQL 2005 (Developer, Workgroup, Standard or Enterprise) an upgrade may need to be purchased. Most companies purchase SQL directly from their Microsoft suppliers, not through Micro Concepts. Please speak to your IT Departments to start budgeting.
We will clarify the situation as soon as we have full details from Autodesk. Your existing Vault 2010 or 2011 installations will not be affected by this change by Microsoft.
SQL Express 4GB limit reached? How To Buy Some Time Before Having To Upgrade To Full SQL
Microsoft SQL Express 2005 and Microsoft SQL Express 2008 have limits on the size of the databases that they can Read/Write to. Once the limit has been reached, the database is put into read-only mode. This means that you can Login and get information/data, but you cannot make any changes to it (i.e. No Checkin/Checkout, No New Users, No New Items, No State Changes).
It will eventually become necessary to upgrade SQL from an Express version to higher version (Workgroup, Standard or Enterprise). However, you can buy some time by performing some of the following:
- Delete unwanted files/folders
- Purge unwanted versions
- Change the Thumbnail property to Not In Use and Reindex Properties
- Change any other unwanted Properties to Not In Use and Reindex Properties
- Delete unwanted Obsolete Items (Productstream/Vault Manufacturing/Vault Professional Only)
- Run a Maintenance Plan as per the Advanced Configuration Guide
