Friday 8 December 2017

Moving TFS 2015 databases to a new server


We have an on-premise Team Foundation Server (2015) which we use for our source control.  Everything is installed on the one vm; TFS and SQL Server (also SQL Reporting Services and Analysis Services but we don't actually use them).
Our plan was to move the database to a new server, including the TFS Configuration database.  This was so that we could uninstall SQL Server.

The steps taken:
  • As it was a virtual machine we were able to create a snapshot of it before we moved anything, always good just in case a rollback is required.
  • Login to the vm as an account with full TFS permissions
  • Open the administration console window and select Team Project Collections, then Detach the collection.
  • Close the administration console when completed.
  • Perform a SQL backup of the TFS_ databases.
  • Restore the SQL backups to the new SQL Server
  • Grant the TFS Service account DBO access to the databases and add any logins.
  • Stop IIS, open a command prompt:
    •  IISReset /Stop
  • Stop the TFS Services:
    • Team Foundation Ssh Service
    • Visual Studio Team Foundation Background Job Agent
    • Visual Studio Test Controller
  • Open a (elevated) command prompt
    • CD C:\Program Files\Microsoft Team Foundation Server 14.0\Tools
    • TfsConfig registerDb /sqlInstance:<NewSQLServer> /databaseName:Tfs_Configuration
    • Note: If the command prompt hangs, give the TFS Admin account higher SQL permissions. 
  • Open the administration console window and select Application Tier, then Reapply account.



  • Disable the SQL Server services (to be sure that it is not being used).
    • SQL Server
    • SQL Server Agent
    • SQL Server Analysis Services
    • SQL Service Integration Services
    • SQL Server Reporting Services
  • In the TFS Administration Console select Team Project Collections and Attach the collection: