Posted On: Jul 16, 2021

AWS Systems Manager Automation now enables customers to upgrade SQL Server 2012 or later on Amazon EC2. Microsoft SQL Server 2012 will reach extended end-of-support on 7/12/2022. Customers can use AWS Systems Manager Automation runbook to easily upgrade SQL Server 2012 to newer supported versions such as SQL Server 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019. The following upgrade paths become available across SQL Server Enterprise, Standard, and Web editions.

1. SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2014/2016/2017/2019
2. SQL Server 2014 to SQL Server 2016/2017/2019
3. SQL Server 2016 to SQL Server 2017/2019
4. SQL Server 2017 to SQL Server 2019

The Automation runbook creates an AMI from the instance running SQL Server 2012 or later, launches a temporary instance from the new AMI, and then performs an upgrade to a newer supported version. After the upgrade, the Automation runbook creates a new AMI from the temporary instance and then terminates the temporary instance.

Customers can access the Automation runbook in AWS Systems Manager console. To learn more about the new capability or to get started, visit the technical documentation.