Up-/Downgrade - Developer to Standard Edition on SQL Server 2019 FCI

Bjoern Peters 8,781 Reputation points
2021-01-07T10:40:55.287+00:00

I didn't find a step-by-step or any documentation on how to up-/downgrade a SQL Server 2019 Dev-Edition to an Std-Edition on a Failover Cluster...

Can someone please advise me on how to do this?

Should I remove the passive node from the cluster, then enter the license key in order to upgrade the instance, and then re-add the passive node to the FCI?

Many thanks for your support.

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Windows Server Clustering
Windows Server: A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.Clustering: The grouping of multiple servers in a way that allows them to appear to be a single unit to client computers on a network. Clustering is a means of increasing network capacity, providing live backup in case one of the servers fails, and improving data security.
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  1. Shashank Singh 6,246 Reputation points
    2021-01-07T11:10:04.403+00:00

    how to up-/downgrade a SQL Server 2019 Dev-Edition to an Std-Edition on a Failover Cluster...

    I am afraid as per the official document SQL Server upgrade matrix this downgrade is not supported. This is supported for standalone instance

    The following scenarios are not supported for SQL Server 2019 (15.x) failover clusters:

    SQL Server 2019 (15.x) Enterprise to SQL Server 2019 (15.x) Developer, Standard, or Evaluation.

    SQL Server 2019 (15.x) Developer to SQL Server 2019 (15.x) Standard or Evaluation.

    Unfortunately you would have to build new FCI and move database by backup restore. Please note developer edition is same as enterprise so if you are using any enterprise features in the database you would need to disable it, then take fresh backup, and then you can restore DEV edition backup on standard edition.

    To find if DB is using any enterprise features run below in the database

    select * from sys.dm_db_persisted_sku_features

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  1. Olaf Helper 41,001 Reputation points
    2021-01-07T11:17:48.68+00:00

    See Supported version & edition upgrades (SQL Server 2019) : 2019 Developer to Standard is not supported, but I guess it's a mistake in the document, because for other versions it is supported.

    See Upgrade to a Different Edition of SQL Server (Setup), start the installer, tab "Maintenance" => Edition Upgrade, and follow the installation wizard.
    Start first with the passive node, after installation has finished, perform manually a cluster failover and then install it on the other node.

  2. Cris Zhan-MSFT 6,606 Reputation points
    2021-01-11T02:06:29.487+00:00

    Hi @Bjoern Peters ,

    According to the Microsoft official document - Supported version & edition upgrades (SQL Server 2019), upgrading from SQL Server 2019 (15.x) Developer to SQL Server 2019 (15.x) Standard is supported for stand-alone installation, but it is not supported for SQL Server FCI installation.

    55020-fci.png

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