How to move data from one db to another which are not in network

Question

Hi,

we have two databases one in dev server and one on qa server which are not in a network. DEV DB is in sync with structure of QA but there is no data in it.

we are planning to move data from qa to dev using datadude. can anyone provide me some information how to move data between them or any steps to follow.

Thanks in advance...

Answer 1

If they have no connection to each other you should better consider using bcp to export the data in files and import them using the bcp bulk operation. Data Dude is a perfect tool for data comparisons, but if you can be sure that the data will be wiped out anyway on the dev servers, you should consider doing the initial load with another tool.

-Jens

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Jens K. Suessmeyer http://blogs.msdn.com/Jenss

Answer 2

Hi,

you mean that we can't transfer data from qa to dev using data dude. I am not planning to wipe out data on dev after data transfer hence we are transfering data from qa to dev to have it there for some dev work on data.

basically I am trying to move some data between two databases with same structure. what is the best option or tool to move data between them.

Thanks

Answer 3

Hi HVPR,

Which version of Visual Studio are you using? If you're using VS 2008 (non-GDR), you can download the power tools here and use the Data Generation Wizard to create a pre-configured data generation plan to accomplish your goal. This data generation plan will be configured with the "sequential databound generator" to pull data from each of the tables in your source database to the corresponding tables in the target database.

If you're using the GDR version, we have not yet released power tools for it. In that case, you might be able to use data compare to copy the data over. Note that data compare will only compare tables with primary keys.

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-Genevieve Orchard (VSTS Database Edition Test Team)

Answer 4

Hi,

Yes we are using visual studio 2008 and I read in documentation that in order to work with sql server 2008 db we have to download VSTS DATABASE EDITION GDR R2 SO I installed gdr. I guess installing power tools we cant work with sq server 2008 databases. please correct me if I am wrong.

Answer 5

Yes, you need the GDR to work with SQL Server 2008 databases, and the power tools for the GDR aren't available yet.

Another option is to import the database schema into a GDR database project, create a data generation plan, and manually configure each column to use the Sequential Databound Generator. You will need to configure each column with the connection string to the source database and a select statement to obtain the correct column. (This is essentially what the power tool wizard does.)

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-Genevieve Orchard (VSTS Database Edition Test Team)

Answer 6

HVPR,

If these boxes are not networked you will have trouble doing a comparison.  You could use sneaker net. Back up the database on the DEV server.  Restore copy of back up to a new database name on the QA server.  Run Data Compare comparing the QA Database  (Source) and DEV Restore (Target).  This will generate an update script.  Save script off and run it against the live DEV database.  If the DEV database has no data you could skip the back up and restore and just create an empty version of the database schema to use to compare. This should work if the data is not too large.  If it is very large then you may run into limitations on batch size of script.  If that is the case then I would look into exporting and bulk insterting as Jens suggests.

Thanks,

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Barclay Hill Program Manager VSTS: DB Team (DataDude, DBPro, Database Edition) Please mark the responses as answer if it resolves your question.