Backup restore db from sql server 2008 r2 to 2008

I need to backup and restore a db on sql server 2008R2 to sql server 2008. The backup file is not compatible this way. The other option that i found is to generate scripts that include data. Will the inserts succeed since i have the db normalised with lots of foreign keys?

Is ther开发者_如何学JAVAe any other reliable approach?

As you noted: the direct restore cannot be done. SQL Server has never been backwards compatible in the sense of restoring a database from a newer version back to a server with an older version.

What you could do is use generated INSERT statements (using SSMS directly, or a handy add-in such as SSMS Toolpack), or you could use a good SQL DIFF tool like Red-Gate SQL Data Compare to compare your two databases (even from a backup file, in the pro version!) and update one from the other.

SQL Server does not allow downgrading you can create a backup of your database in SQL Server 2008R2 instance and use third party tools, ApexSQL Diff and ApexSQL Data Diff to restore the backup an older version of SQL Server.

You can read detailed explanation of the process in this article: Restoring SQL Server database backup to an older version of SQL Server

Hope this helps

Disclaimer: I work for ApexSQL as a Support Engineer

You could try using the export data wizard. Right click on the Database in SSMS, Tasks, Export Data and copy all or whichever objects you need.

Backward compatibility is not available in SQL server 2008 R2 . One solution is that the database script generate and run the desired server.