Best practice for transfering MSSQL Databases and all accounts to new server?

Question

One of our customers has installed a new SQL server and needs to take down the old SQL box. Both servers are running Microsoft SQL Server 2008. The applications all access the current SQL server via hostname so the plan is to transfer everything then cut over the connections by updating DNS.

My question is: "What is the best way to actually move the databases and all associated accounts to the new server?"

Nothing about the current set up is documented. I need to figure out how to move over all the databases, stored procedures, SQL agent jobs, and SQL authentication accounts to the new server (note: the only account password I have is the sa password).

I am not a MSSQL guru so any help would be appreciated. Let me know if I need to clarify anything.

Answer 1

I guess a Backup/Restore would be appropriate here.

Update:

• If you additionally need logins to be transferred, use: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918992/en-us
• If you need all database objects to be transferred, use the Copy Database Wizard instead of Backup/Restore