Can SQL Server 2005 databases be migrated back to 2000 servers?
SSIS offers so much more than DTS. Rather than view it as the next version of DTS, I view it instead as version 1 of a new product. During the process of migrating to SQL Server 2005, many development organizations will still be forced to support SQL Server 2000 installations. As a result, a common requirement is the ability to reverse-migrate: move databases back from SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2000. Unfortunately, this is not as easy. Backed-up databases from SQL Server 2005 instances cannot be restored in SQL Server 2000 instances. Nor can detached SQL Server 2005 databases be reattached to SQL Server 2000. Because backup/restore and detach/attach are not supported, the only methods available for moving data from SQL Server 2005 installations to SQL Server 2000 installations are based on copying data. Data and schemas can be scripted using a tool such as Red Gate’s SQL Packager and scripts can be applied on the SQL Server 2000 installations. Another option is to use tools such as
