Upgrading to SQL Server 2008 R2 Express

This topic applies to ArcGIS for Desktop Standard and ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced only.

You can upgrade a SQL Server Express instance to a SQL Server 2008 R2 Express instance using the Microsoft SQL Server Express installation wizard.

The version of SQL Server Express that is delivered with ArcGIS has changed with some releases. The following lists the version of SQL Server Express that is delivered with each version of ArcGIS:

• ArcGIS 9.2: SQL Server 2005 Express Service Pack (SP) 2
• ArcGIS 9.3: SQL Server 2005 Express with Advanced Services
• ArcGIS 9.3.1 and 10: SQL Server 2008 SP1 Express with Advanced Services
• ArcGIS 10.1 and 10.2: SQL Server 2008 R2 with Advanced Services

If you were using database servers with an earlier release of ArcGIS, you can upgrade your SQL Server Express instance when you install the current ArcGIS release.

You should read the Microsoft documentation on upgrading your SQL Server instance. The following steps explain steps specific to upgrading a SQL Server Express instance used as a geodatabase database server when running the SQL Server setup wizard provided with ArcGIS for Desktop, ArcGIS Engine, or ArcGIS for Server Workgroup:

Steps:

1. Check the Microsoft documentation to be sure your computer meets the minimum requirements for installing SQL Server 2008 R2 Express.
2. Before upgrading the SQL Server Express instance, create backups of all your geodatabases.
3. Be sure to install the support software that SQL Server Express R2 2008 requires: Microsoft Windows Installer 4.5, the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, and Windows Powershell 2.0. These can be obtained from the Microsoft website.
4. Once the prerequisite software is installed and the computer has been restarted, navigate to the ArcSDE Personal or ArcSDE Workgroup folder of the installation setups and launch the ESRI.exe file.
5. When the installation dialog box appears, click ArcSDE for SQL Server Express.
6. Leave the Microsoft SQL Server Express Edition option checked on the Installation Options dialog box. If you are using ArcGIS for Server at the Workgroup level and have a new license, leave the postinstallation option checked. If not, uncheck the postinstallation option and click Next.

   This launches the SQL Server 2008 R2 setup wizard.

7. Run the SQL Server 2008 R2 setup wizard as described in the Microsoft documentation to upgrade your SQL Server Express instance.
8. Be sure when you get to the Select Instance dialog box that you choose the existing SQL Server Express instance that you are using for your geodatabase database server from the Instance to upgrade drop-down menu.
9. The wizard detects the features that are currently installed with the SQL Server Express instance. You can only upgrade features that are already present; you cannot add new ones. Click Next to continue.
   Caution:

   If you are upgrading from SQL Server 2005 Express SP2, you must run the SQL Server 2008 R2 Express installation again after upgrading and add the full-text component.

10. When you get to the Full-text Upgrade dialog box, choose to Rebuild full-text catalogs.

    This means your existing full-text catalogs will be rebuilt using the SQL Server 2008 word breakers.

11. The final dialog box indicates whether the upgrade was successful. Click Close to exit the upgrade wizard.
12. If you also need to update the ArcGIS for Server Workgroup license, the ArcGIS wizard to enable your SQL Server Express instance will open. See Changing license keys for database servers and their geodatabases for information on updating your license key.

Your existing geodatabases will also likely need to be upgraded. See Upgrading a geodatabase on a database server for instructions.