Discontinued and Deprecated features in SQL Server 2012

  • Article

Recently we encountered a few problems with upgrades to SQL Server 2012, mainly because of usage of features that are no longer supported.

Each time we are approach an upgrade, we try to minimize the risk.
These built-in tools can assist us:

  • SQL Server Upgrade Advisor
  • SQL Server Profiler deprecation events
  • SQL Server Distributed Replay

Once we use any of these simple tools, we minimize the risk of a failing an upgrade. It is also important to mention that it is also required to perform full regression, functionality and performance tests as well.

Here are some of most relevant deprecated and discontinued features.

Deprecated

  • SET ROWCOUNT
  • SQL Server Database Mirroring
  • Specifying the SQLOLEDB provider for linked servers.
  • Not ending Transact-SQL statements with a semicolon.
  • Specifying table hints without using the WITH keyword.
  • Specifying NOLOCK or READUNCOMMITTED in the FROM clause of an UPDATE or DELETE statement.
  • SQL Trace stored procedures, functions, and catalog views.
  • sp_dbcmptlevel
  • sp_attach_db & sp_attach_single_file_db
  • c2 audit option
  • default trace enabled option
  • sp_addlogin / sp_droplogin / sp_adduser / sp_dropuser / sp_grantdbaccess / sp_revokedbaccess / sp_denylogin

Discontinued

  • fastfirstrow option
  • compatibility level 80
  • sp_dboption
  • AWE

 

For more details, please refer to this detailed document (including 4 topics) -
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143532.aspx