---
title: "Upgrade Process Overview | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "03/06/2017"
ms.prod: "sql-server-2014"
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.technology: "database-engine"
ms.topic: conceptual
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "upgrading SQL Server"
  - "Upgrade Advisor [SQL Server], process description"
  - "SQL Server Upgrade Advisor, process description"
  - "upgrade process [Upgrade Advisor]"
ms.assetid: f77ffbab-a195-4124-acce-9c538f7ca9ce
author: mashamsft
ms.author: mathoma
manager: craigg
---
# Upgrade Process Overview
  This topic provides best practice information for [!INCLUDE[ssCurrent](../../includes/sscurrent-md.md)] Upgrade Advisor and a summary of the recommended process for upgrading to [!INCLUDE[ssCurrent](../../includes/sscurrent-md.md)].  
  
## Upgrade Process  
 Servers that are running [!INCLUDE[ssVersion2005](../../includes/ssversion2005-md.md)], [!INCLUDE[ssKatmai](../../includes/sskatmai-md.md)], [!INCLUDE[ssKilimanjaro](../../includes/sskilimanjaro-md.md)], or [!INCLUDE[ssSQL11](../../includes/sssql11-md.md)] can be upgraded to [!INCLUDE[ssCurrent](../../includes/sscurrent-md.md)]. Whereas some [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] components can be upgraded in place, others must be migrated, and still others have been superseded by new components. For example, starting with [!INCLUDE[ssVersion2005](../../includes/ssversion2005-md.md)], [!INCLUDE[ssISnoversion](../../includes/ssisnoversion-md.md)] ([!INCLUDE[ssIS](../../includes/ssis-md.md)]) supersedes Data Transformation Services (DTS), and DTS is no longer supported in [!INCLUDE[ssCurrent](../../includes/sscurrent-md.md)]. When you formulate your upgrade plan, you might need to plan for updating your current DTS packages to [!INCLUDE[ssIS](../../includes/ssis-md.md)] packages.  
  
 Upgrade Advisor enables you to evaluate current [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] installations, components, and related files to identify known issues that will cause problems both during and after you upgrade or migrate to [!INCLUDE[ssCurrent](../../includes/sscurrent-md.md)]. A few of these known issues block the [!INCLUDE[ssCurrent](../../includes/sscurrent-md.md)] upgrade. In the Upgrade Advisor report, these issues are identified as Upgrade Blockers. If you have not addressed the Upgrade Blockers before you run Setup, [!INCLUDE[ssCurrent](../../includes/sscurrent-md.md)] Setup exits and recommends that you run Upgrade Advisor to identify the specific issues that are blocking the upgrade.  
  
 As a best practice before upgrading to [!INCLUDE[ssCurrent](../../includes/sscurrent-md.md)], we recommend that you back up your data and system settings, and take strategic steps as outlined in the operational guidelines defined for your organization. Use the following steps to complete the upgrade:  
  
1.  Review [Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2014](hardware-and-software-requirements-for-installing-sql-server.md).  
  
2.  Back up data and system settings.  
  
3.  Run Upgrade Advisor.  
  
     Upgrade Advisor does not modify your data or change settings on your computer.  
  
4.  Review the issues identified in the Upgrade Advisor report.  
  
5.  Resolve any blocking issues that would prevent you from upgrading to [!INCLUDE[ssCurrent](../../includes/sscurrent-md.md)].  
  
6.  Resolve any other pre-upgrade issues.  
  
7.  Run Upgrade Advisor to verify that all known issues have been addressed.  
  
8.  Run [!INCLUDE[ssCurrent](../../includes/sscurrent-md.md)] Setup.  
  
9. Resolve any post-upgrade and migration issues.  
  
## See Also  
 [Running Upgrade Advisor (User Interface)](../../../2014/sql-server/install/running-upgrade-advisor-user-interface.md)   
 [Using Reports](../../../2014/sql-server/install/using-reports.md)   
 [Working with Upgrade Advisor](../../../2014/sql-server/install/working-with-upgrade-advisor.md)