Re: MS SQL to Postgres

On 8/20/25 10:25, KK CHN wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am in search of the best practices to migrate from an MS SQL database
> server to PostgreSQL 16
>
> Existing DB server MSSQL with 6 Million records and 3.5 TB  with 424
> Tables running from 2019 onwards.
>
> Each table has 5 to 16 columns ( basically text, numbers, lat long
> coordinates , time stamps, and images/voice file (stored in archive
> folders)reference links, etc.  ).
>
> I am in need to port / migrate all this data from this MS SQL server to
> Postgres16 .
>

Up front, I have not moved data from MSSQL to Postgres. What follows
will be generic.

> 1. What are the best methods and practices folks employ to do this kind
> of data porting operations?

Planning and patience.

It is a matter of drawing a map/diagram of where you are now(MSSQL) and
where you want to end up(Postgres) with steps to get from A to B.

> 2. what are the tools and techniques to explored / employed for this

One that I know of:
https://pgloader.io/

> 3. How much time is consumed by employing the right tools, the entire
> porting of 6 million records of 3.5 TB size to Postgres 16 takes

Unknowable at this point. I will say it depends on how many MSSQL
specific features you use and whether there are Postgres direct
equivalents or you whether you will need to do extensive modifications.

> 4. Any hurdles or challenges or risks

Changing database vendors.

>
> Kindly enlighten me with the best practices and  reference materials /
> links or tutorials to perform these operations successfully.
>
> Thank you,
> Krishane
>

--
Adrian Klaver
adrian(dot)klaver(at)aklaver(dot)com