Considerations for reverting SQL Server over SMB configurations

Before you revert to a Data ONTAP version that does not support nondisruptive operations for SQL Server over SMB shares, you must be aware of certain considerations to ensure that you are prepared for the revert.

Before you revert, you must consider the following and take action where necessary:

• If you are reverting to a version of Data ONTAP that does not support SMB 3.0 and persistent handle locks, operations such as failover and giveback are disruptive because SQL Server servers cannot reclaim disconnected durable handles.
• There must be no file access by the SQL Server servers to database files when you revert:
  • You can use the SQL Server application to migrate database files to another storage device or to local storage.
  • You can shut down all SQL Server databases and manually terminate SQL Server connections to the data LIFs.

    Data ONTAP disables SMB 3.0 before reverting; therefore, if the SMB connections are not manually terminated, Data ONTAP terminates them during the revert.

• You cannot use the SQL Server SMB 3.0 continuously available shares for nondisruptive operations if you revert to a version of Data ONTAP that does not support it.

  You must configure the SQL Server servers to use connected LUNs to store and access database files. You must then move the database files from the SMB shares to the connected LUNs.