SAP_BASIS SP update before or after migration to SQL Server 2016

[wei-shang_ku]

Hi,

We're running ERP on SQL Server 2008 SP1.

Now we want to upgrade Windows OS and SQL Server (Migrate to new server).

The target SQL Server version would be SQL Server 2016

Our current NW version is 701 SP05, however, the required SP level to support SQL 2016 is SP18 (see Note 2201059).

To speed up the migration, we'd like to:
1) Install new OS and SQL 2016 on target server.

2) Source server downtime, then backup/restore the database (from SQL2008 to SQL2016) to target database

3) Startup ERP on target system

4) SPAM do SP update from SP05 to SP18.

My question is :

Is it possible to startup ERP successfully at step 3) ? Since note 2201059 says SP05 is

not supported on SQL 2016, we don't know it is technically possible for transition ?

Thanks

[BJarkowski · Accepted solution]

Hi,

as you wrote SQL 2016 is not supported on SP05 therefore you won't be able to start the system. And even if you're succesfull with it you might get more troubles when running system.

You need firstly to update your SAP system to SP18 and then upgrade the database.

Best regards

Bartosz

[wei-shang_ku · Accepted solution]

Bartosz,

Thanks for your advice

[luisdarui]

Hello,

You must always meet the minimum SAP NetWeaver SPS before upgrading your database. What you're trying to accomplish is a database upgrade, through a database copy. If you upgrade your database without the minimum SAP NetWeaver SPS, you will end up with your system totally unusable and you won't be able to fix it. SAP NetWeaver 701 SPS05 does not have the necessary code to run on SQL Server 2016, this is delivered on SPS 16. That is why you have to update your system to SPS 16 before migrating, so when you finish your migration, your system will have all necessary code to run on SQL Server 2016.

If you have further questions, I suggest you reading the guide "Upgrade to and Installation of SQL Server 2016" at http://service.sap.com/instguides.

[wei-shang_ku]

Luis

Thanks for your advice

[former_member509448]

One question for Luis Darui: is it necessary to update all Stack (SPS16)? Or maybe updating only SAP ABAP and SAP BASIS components would be enough?

[luisdarui]

Correct, you have to update the entire SAP NetWeaver SPS. We have never tested and homologated SQL Server with just few packages from NetWeaver.