Migrate SQL Express to SQL Server

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Objective

Steps to Migrate the Citrix Database from Old SQL Express Server to New Full SQL Server 

Instructions

How to Migrate Citrix Database from SQL Express Server to SQL Server 2019

Note : Take snapshots of the Delivery Controllers and Citrix Database Full Backups before making changes.

1. Install SQL Express Management Studio on Delivery Controller where you have your Citrix Database Installed using the link : https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssms/download-sql-server-management-studio-ssms?view=sql-server-ver15

2. Open the SQL management console and check if you are able to see your Citrix Databases Site, Monitoring and Logging.

3. Take a Complete/Full Backup of Citrix Databases from the  management Console.

4. Export and Import the Citrix Databases to the new SQL Server.

5. Then add SQL logins corresponding to the Computer Accounts for your Delivery Controllers and grant them specific roles in the restored database.

6. You can find the Computer Accounts of Delivery Controller under SQL Express Management Console > Security  (*Add these Computer accounts on new database Server as well)

7. Make Sure you add the User Admin Account as SysAdmin and DbOwner roles.

E.g. 
For Adding USER1 as Admin as SysAdmin, login to the SQL Management Console > Security > Add USER1 > Assign SysAdmin Role 
For Adding USER1 as Admin as DbOwner, login to the SQL Management Console > Databases > Citrix Site Database>  Security > Add USER1 > Assign Db_Owner Role

8. Now you will need to change the connection strings to point to new SQL Server by following the Manual Settings under the following article :

https://docs.citrix.com/en-us/advanced-concepts/implementation-guides/database-connection-strings.html#update-strings-manually

Note : Make Sure you shut down the second, Third and so on  controller Server in case you have multiple Delivery Controllers and only make changes to the First Controller.

9. After the first Server is completed with Connection Strings you need to reboot and open the studio to see if that works .

10. Now you may follow the same steps in point 8 and continue with other Controllers 1 by 1 .

# For any further help if the issue still persist you may reach out to Citrix Technical Support .

Additional Resources

Disclaimer

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