Upgrading SQL Server

Upgrade the server first, then upgrade the workstations.

Both Clinical and Pracsoft use Microsoft SQL databases. Clinical and Pracsoft require two SQL Server Instances.

  • HCNSQL07 - Required. Hosts the clinical and financial data.
  • ESP - Required. Used by functionality such as MedicalDirector About Insights, and if your practice uses a TYRO device.

The MedicalDirector DVD / ISO (4.0 and later) come supplied with Microsoft SQL 2014 Express. A new server role installation will create the SQL Server instances for you automatically but will not upgrade existing installations.

The following scenario assumes that you are running either full SQL, or SQL Express. In either case, you need only upgrade Clinical and/or Pracsoft by following the instructions contained in this document.

If you have obtained a copy of Full SQL 2014, 2016, 2017 or 2019 and are currently running Clinical and/or Pracsoft within SQL Express, you can upgrade to Full SQL 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019 either before or after upgrading to Clinical / Pracsoft 4.2. (The minimum supported version for MedicalDirector Clinical / Pracsoft 4.2 is Microsoft SQL 2008 R2 SP3.) In either case:

  1. Make a valid full backup.
  2. Follow the instructions supplied by Microsoft to upgrade both SQL Express Instances HCNSQL07 and ESP to your version of Full SQL 2014, 2016, 2017 or 2019. This requires running the SQL installer twice.

If your practice is running an older version of SQL, for example, SQL 2005 Express, please contact MedicalDirector Customer Service.