How to Migrate a Database from SQL Server to PostgreSQL

Both Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL are popular relational database management systems (RDBMS) with rich management tools and coding APIs. However, SQL Server’s licensing policy is restrictive and expensive, while PostgreSQL is open-source and more flexible. As a result, many businesses consider migrating their databases from SQL Server to PostgreSQL.

Database migration between those two DBMS involves several steps:

  • Extract table classifications from the main database as DDL SQL statements.
  • Convert these statements to the destination format and upload them to the target database.
  • Move data from the source database to a more reliable storage, such as CSV files.
  • Convert the data to the destination format and load it into the target database.
  • Extract views, stored procedures, and triggers from the SQL Server database as SQL statements and source code.
  • Convert these statements and source code to the destination format and upload them to the target database.

Manual database migration is time-consuming and prone to data loss or corruption. Therefore, it is advisable to use conversion software to automate the process. One such software is MS SQL to PostgreSQL converter by Intelligent Converters, a leading provider of database conversion, transfer, and synchronization solutions since 2001.

MS SQL to PostgreSQL converter delivers excellent results by directly reading and writing data without middleware components or libraries. Average performance of the migration is about 20000 rows per second on a modern hardware platform. It supports all versions of SQL Server and PostgreSQL, including cloud solutions, and offers a command-line version for process automation and scheduling.

In addition to migrating data from SQL Server to a new database, the converter allows consolidation or synchronization with an existing PostgreSQL database. It also allows you to select specific data using SELECT queries and convert it to PostgreSQL format. You can modify column types using the custom column mapping feature, which enables you to change name, type, default value, and NULL-attribute in any table column and exclude specific columns from conversion.

1)            Filtering records: SELECT * FROM TheTable WHERE UID < 100

2)            Select and rename individual columns: SELECT clmn1 AS Name, clmn2 as Phone FROM MyTable

3)            Skip NULL values: SELECT * FROM TheTable WHERE Address2 IS NOT NULL

If the target PostgreSQL server rejects remote connection, the software offers an alternative: exporting the data into an SQL script. In this process, the source database is exported to a local file containing SQL statements to create tables, indexes, and constraints, which are later filled with data.

Visit official site of Intelligent Converters to learn more about MS SQL to PostgreSQL converter and related products.