As SQL 2008 R2 is out of support, my client was trying to upgrade to SQL Server 2012. In this blog, we would learn more about error message – Upgrade Blocked: The specified edition upgrade is not supported.
Hi Pinal,
We are into a situation and need your expert advice. We are trying to upgrade from SQL Server 2008 R2 Express to SQL Server 2012 Evaluation edition and getting an error which is not expected.
“SQL Server 2012 Feature Upgrade Failed”
“The specified edition upgrade is not supported. For information about supported upgrade paths, see the SQL Server 2012 version and edition upgrade in Books Online.”
Its not expected because if you check the link it says “You can upgrade from SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008, and SQL Server 2008 R2 to SQL Server 2012.”
Can you help us and tell us what is wrong?
WORKAROUND/SOLUTION
I explained to my client that they have not read the complete article. Overall, upgrade from any edition to evaluation is not possible. If you want to test the upgrade process, then use SQL Server 2012 Express Edition. There is no direct upgrade path in any version to “Evaluation” edition. If they need to check the feasibility of enterprise edition, then they should install the Evaluation edition and restore their databases
Just for fun, I tried edition upgrade from SQL Server 2017 Express to SQL Server 2017 Evaluation edition and the error message is little more meaningful.
Rule “SQL Server 2017 edition upgrade” failed.
The selected SQL Server instance does not meet upgrade matrix requirements. The source Express edition upgrading from and the target Evaluation edition upgrading to is not allowed.
Have you encountered the same error earlier? Which was the option which you selected? Backup/restore or upgrading source to higher edition first?
Reference: Pinal Dave (https://blog.SQLAuthority.com)
First appeared on SQL SERVER – Upgrade Blocked: The Specified Edition Upgrade is Not Supported