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Upgrade from Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

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Applies To: Dynamics CRM 2013

This section provides best practice guidelines and actual procedures to install Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2013 in an organization that already has Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2011 installed.

Upgrade options

There are three different upgrade options:

  • Migrate by using a new instance of Microsoft SQL Server. We recommend this option for upgrading from Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2011 to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2013. Although this option requires a different computer for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2013 and a different instance of SQL Server, it provides the least amount of potential downtime for Microsoft Dynamics CRM because the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 deployment can remain functioning until the upgrade is completed and verified.

  • Migrate by using the same instance of SQL Server. This option requires a different computer for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2013, but will upgrade in-place the configuration and default organization databases using the same instance of SQL Server. If issues occur during the upgrade, you must roll back to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2011 to avoid significant downtime.

  • In-place upgrade. Although this option doesn’t require a different computer for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2013 or a different instance of SQL Server, it poses the greatest risk if upgrade issues occur because a roll back and reinstall of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2011 will be required to avoid potential downtime.

Important

Only deployments with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Update Rollup 6 or Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Update Rollup 14 or later are supported for upgrade. For more information, see Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Server versions supported for upgrade.

You can’t in-place upgrade versions of Microsoft Dynamics CRM that are earlier than Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2011. For information about how to migrate your Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 deployment, see Migrate from Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Server to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 Server.