Move multiple databases from C: to D: at once

I have SQL Server 2008 R2 with 323 databases consuming some 14 GB on my C: drive, a fast SSD.

Because I want to reclaim some space on my C: drive, I would like to move them to my D: drive.

I have found this MSDN article, but that seems to be the procedure to move only one database.

Is there an automatic way or script to move all my databases at once?

I use Powershell for this sort of work. In fact, I use Powershell to generate Powershell, because I have a script that will loop through my databases and generate my final move script. You will have to move each database one at a time, but this will at least help you script 90% of the work.

#load SMO
Add-PSSnapin SqlServerCmdletSnapin100
Add-PSSnapin SqlServerProviderSnapin100
#Added line if using SQL Server 2012 or later
Import-module SQLPS
[System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName('Microsoft.SqlServer.SMO') | out-null

#Create server object and output filename 
$server = New-Object -TypeName Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Server "localhost"
$outputfile=([Environment]::GetFolderPath("MyDocuments"))+"\FileMover.ps1"

#set this for your new location
$newloc="X:\NewDBLocation"

#get your databases
$db_list=$server.Databases

#build initial script components
"Add-PSSnapin SqlServerCmdletSnapin100" > $outputfile
"Add-PSSnapin SqlServerProviderSnapin100" >> $outputfile
"Import-Module SQLPS" >> $outputfile 
"[System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName('Microsoft.SqlServer.SMO') `"localhost`" | out-null" >> $outputfile
"`$server = New-Object -TypeName Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Server " >> $outputfile

foreach($db_build in $db_list)
{
    #only process user databases
    if(!($db_build.IsSystemObject))
    {
        #script out all the file moves
        "#----------------------------------------------------------------------" >> $outputfile
        "`$db=`$server.Databases[`""+$db_build.Name+"`"]" >> $outputfile

        $dbchange = @()
        $robocpy =@()
        foreach ($fg in $db_build.Filegroups)
        {
            foreach($file in $fg.Files)
            {
                $shortfile=$file.Filename.Substring($file.Filename.LastIndexOf('\')+1)
                $oldloc=$file.Filename.Substring(0,$file.Filename.LastIndexOf('\'))
                $dbchange+="`$db.FileGroups[`""+$fg.Name+"`"].Files[`""+$file.Name+"`"].Filename=`"$newloc`\"+$shortfile+"`""
                $robocpy+="ROBOCOPY `"$oldloc`" `"$newloc`" $shortfile /copyall /mov"

            }
        }

        foreach($logfile in $db_build.LogFiles)
        {
            $shortfile=$logfile.Filename.Substring($logfile.Filename.LastIndexOf('\')+1)
            $oldloc=$logfile.Filename.Substring(0,$logfile.Filename.LastIndexOf('\'))
            $dbchange+="`$db.LogFiles[`""+$logfile.Name+"`"].Filename=`"$newloc`\"+$shortfile+"`""
            $robocpy+="ROBOCOPY `"$oldloc`" `"$newloc`" $shortfile /copyall /mov"
        }

        $dbchange+="`$db.Alter()" 
        $dbchange+="Invoke-Sqlcmd -Query `"ALTER DATABASE ["+$db_build.Name+"] SET OFFLINE WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE;`" -Database `"master`"" 

        $dbchange >> $outputfile
        $robocpy >> $outputfile

        "Invoke-Sqlcmd -Query `"ALTER DATABASE ["+$db_build.Name+"] SET ONLINE;`" -Database `"master`""  >> $outputfile
    }
}

The output will be a FileMover.ps1 script in your MyDocuments folder that looks something like this:

Add-PSSnapin SqlServerCmdletSnapin100
    Add-PSSnapin SqlServerProviderSnapin100
    Import-Module SQLPS
    [System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName('Microsoft.SqlServer.SMO') "localhost" | out-null
    $server = New-Object -TypeName Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Server 
    #----------------------------------------------------------------------
    $db=$server.Databases["AdventureWorks2012"]
    $db.FileGroups["PRIMARY"].Files["AdventureWorks2012_Data"].Filename="X:\NewDBLocation\AdventureWorks2012_Data.mdf"
    $db.LogFiles["AdventureWorks2012_Log"].Filename="X:\NewDBLocation\AdventureWorks2012_log.ldf"
    $db.Alter()
    Invoke-Sqlcmd -Query "ALTER DATABASE [AdventureWorks2012] SET OFFLINE WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE;" -Database "master"
    ROBOCOPY "C:\DBData" "X:\NewDBLocation" AdventureWorks2012_Data.mdf /copyall /mov
    ROBOCOPY "C:\DBFiles\Log" "X:\NewDBLocation" AdventureWorks2012_log.ldf /copyall /mov
    Invoke-Sqlcmd -Query "ALTER DATABASE [AdventureWorks2012] SET ONLINE;" -Database "master"
    #----------------------------------------------------------------------
    $db=$server.Databases["AdventureWorks2012DW"]
    $db.FileGroups["PRIMARY"].Files["AdventureWorksDW2012_Data"].Filename="X:\NewDBLocation\AdventureWorksDW2012_Data.mdf"
    $db.LogFiles["AdventureWorksDW2012_Log"].Filename="X:\NewDBLocation\AdventureWorks2012DW_log.ldf"
    $db.Alter()
    Invoke-Sqlcmd -Query "ALTER DATABASE [AdventureWorks2012DW] SET OFFLINE WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE;" -Database "master"
    ROBOCOPY "C:\DBData" "X:\NewDBLocation" AdventureWorksDW2012_Data.mdf /copyall /mov
    ROBOCOPY "C:\DBData" "X:\NewDBLocation" AdventureWorks2012DW_log.ldf /copyall /mov
    Invoke-Sqlcmd -Query "ALTER DATABASE [AdventureWorks2012DW] SET ONLINE;" -Database "master"

...

Caveats

• The script moves all files, no matter their source location, to the

same destination. You will need to tweak for custom location paths.

• The scri

StackExchange Database Administrators Q#46545, answer score: 20