How to migrate collections from TFS 2017 to Azure DevOps Server 2019 (Different DB servers)

3
votes

I have been handling an aging Windows Server 2008 machine with TFS upgraded in place to 2017.2. Now, with Azure DevOps Server 2019, support for Windows Server 2008 is no longer available. Also, the existing SQL Server is 2012 and is no longer supported as well. I cannot upgrade the database to SQL Server 2014+ as there is the OS restriction. and in our company, upgrading OS in-place is not allowed.

Existing setup is as follows:

  • Windows Server 2008 (One VM)
  • TFS 2017.2
  • SQL Server 2012 Ent (On same VM)
  • Non-HTTPS machine name URL Team Portal access over Intranet

I prepared a brand new Windows Server 2016 for the Azure DevOps 2019.0.1. I also was able to get hold of a SQL AlwaysON Cluster based off SQL Server 2017 Ent just for Azure DevOps.

If I proceed with DevOps setup, I'll target the new DB Cluster and it will set up the new DB accordingly.

How do I move my existing collections to the new cluster (easy: restore DBs on the new cluster)?

Will Azure DevOps just accept the new collections?

All migration topics I've read are always assuming DB server and TFS server are the same and do not change.

1
sql-serverazure-devopsdatabase-migrationazure-devops-server-2019
Check this: docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/server/upgrade/… – Shayki Abramczyk
@ShaykiAbramczyk That's for Azure DevOps Cloud. and almost is like a pep talk. I have followed more detailed guides when I started the journey of updating the TFS from 2002 to 2017.2 – Hassan Gulzar
Is NOT for the cloud, check again. I think if you move the DB to the new server and then in 2019 setup point them it should be fine. – Shayki Abramczyk
In that case, this would be easy. I'll attempt and update here – Hassan Gulzar
devblogs.microsoft.com/premier-developer/… – jessehouwing

1 Answers

3
votes

Ideal path:

  • Install the SQL Server matching your original environment.
  • Attach the databases
  • Install a version of TFS that supports your SQL server version that is the same or newer than the original server.
  • Walk through the configuration wizard.
  • uninstall TFS server
  • Detach databases and uninstall SQL Server
  • Install the desired SQL Server version with the same instance name.
  • Attach databases
  • Install latest version of Azure DevOps Server
  • Walk through the Upgrade wizard.

Full details here: