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Moving MSDB to a New Location

Mar 7, 2012 / By Hemantgiri Goswami

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In recent past we had a situation where in, we were required to move MSDB, Model and Master databases to a new location, the reason being a faulty drive. While moving the system databases to the new location we needed to be extra cautious. Let’s see the process step-by-step.

Step 1: Let’s query sys view and note down the location of the database files

SELECT
NAME,
PHYSICAL_NAME AS 'PhysicalFilePath',
STATE_DESC AS 'DB Status'
FROM SYS.MASTER_FILES
Step 1

Step 2: Run alter database and specify new location for database

SELECT
ALTER DATABASE MSDB
MODIFY FILE
(
NAME = MSDBData,
FILENAME= 'C:\SQLDB\Demo\MSDBData.mdf'
)
GO
ALTER DATABASE MSDB
MODIFY FILE
(
NAME = MSDBLog,
FILENAME= 'C:\SQLDB\Demo\MSDBLog.mdf'
)
GO
Step 1

Step 3: Stop SQL Server service
Step 1

Step 4: Once SQL Server service is stopped, move MSDB database to the new location
Step 5: Now, start SQL Server service. This time it will use the new path that we have configured in Step 2.

Note: If you have enabled and configure Database Mail, please make sure it works after you moved MSDB to the new location.

Tomorrow, I will post about how to relocate Master database.

– Hemantgiri S. Goswami

2 comments on “Moving MSDB to a New Location”

  1. Santosh on said:

    For log file alter, it should be .ldf

    FILENAME= ‘C:SQLDBDemoMSDBLog.ldf’

  2. Hemantgiri S. Goswami on said:

    Thanks for drawing my attention Santosh, I will modified the typo.

    Regards
    Hemantgiri

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