How to Migrate from SQLServer to ParadeDB in PostgreSQL

Galaxy Glossary

How do I migrate a SQL Server database to PostgreSQL ParadeDB?

Move schema and data from Microsoft SQL Server to a PostgreSQL cluster running the ParadeDB extension.

Sign up for the latest in SQL knowledge from the Galaxy Team!
Welcome to the Galaxy, Guardian!
You'll be receiving a confirmation email

Follow us on twitter :)
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Description

Table of Contents

Why choose ParadeDB over SQL Server?

ParadeDB adds vector search, columnar storage, and advanced indexing on top of PostgreSQL. Migrating lets you keep relational power while adding AI-friendly features at lower licence cost.

Which migration tools work best?

Use sqlpackage or bcp to dump SQL Server data, pgloader for one-shot schema + data moves, and psql for replaying generated DDL into ParadeDB.

How do I export SQL Server schema?

Run sqlpackage /Action:Script /TargetFile:schema.sql.The file contains T-SQL DDL that you will translate to PostgreSQL syntax.

How do I translate T-SQL types?

Map NVARCHARTEXT, BITBOOLEAN, DATETIMETIMESTAMP, MONEYNUMERIC(19,4). Replace IDENTITY with GENERATED BY DEFAULT AS IDENTITY or SERIAL.

How do I load the schema into ParadeDB?

Connect with psql, enable the extension, then run the adapted DDL:CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS paradedb;\i schema_postgres.sql

How do I move data efficiently?

Dump each table with bcp "SELECT * FROM dbo.Customers" queryout customers.csv -c -t"|".Then load with \COPY customers FROM 'customers.csv' WITH (FORMAT csv, DELIMITER '|');

How do I verify migrated data?

Run row-count and checksum comparisons on both sides.Example: SELECT COUNT(*) FROM customers; vs the SQL Server result.

How do I enable vector search after migration?

Add embedding columns and ParadeDB indexes: ALTER TABLE products ADD COLUMN name_embedding vector(768); then SELECT create_vector_index('products','name_embedding');

What are best practices?

Migrate in stages, disable triggers while loading, keep transactions small, and test application queries under load before switchover.

What mistakes should I avoid?

Avoid trusting auto-converted DDL; always review types and constraints.Do not copy SQL Server COLLATION settings blindly—use PostgreSQL defaults unless case sensitivity is critical.

.

Why How to Migrate from SQLServer to ParadeDB in PostgreSQL is important

How to Migrate from SQLServer to ParadeDB in PostgreSQL Example Usage


-- After loading data, search for the 3 products most similar to a query vector
SELECT id, name, price
FROM products
ORDER BY name_embedding <=> '[0.12,0.98, … ,0.07]'::vector
LIMIT 3;

How to Migrate from SQLServer to ParadeDB in PostgreSQL Syntax


-- Enable ParadeDB on the target cluster
CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS paradedb;

-- Example translated table definitions
CREATE TABLE customers (
    id            BIGINT GENERATED BY DEFAULT AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
    name          TEXT NOT NULL,
    email         TEXT UNIQUE,
    created_at    TIMESTAMP DEFAULT NOW()
);

CREATE TABLE orders (
    id            BIGINT GENERATED BY DEFAULT AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
    customer_id   BIGINT REFERENCES customers(id),
    order_date    DATE,
    total_amount  NUMERIC(19,4)
);

-- Bulk load data
\COPY customers FROM 'customers.csv' WITH (FORMAT csv, HEADER);
\COPY orders    FROM 'orders.csv'    WITH (FORMAT csv, HEADER);

-- ParadeDB vector support
ALTER TABLE products ADD COLUMN name_embedding vector(768);
SELECT create_vector_index('products','name_embedding');

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I migrate in one step?

Yes. pgloader can connect to SQL Server and ParadeDB simultaneously, converting types on the fly. However, manual review is still recommended.

Does ParadeDB support stored procedures?

ParadeDB runs inside PostgreSQL, so use PL/pgSQL. T-SQL procedures must be rewritten manually.

How large a database can I migrate?

Terabyte-scale moves succeed when you batch tables, disable indexes during load, and use parallel \COPY.

Want to learn about other SQL terms?

Trusted by top engineers on high-velocity teams
Aryeo Logo
Assort Health
Curri
Rubie Logo
Bauhealth Logo
Truvideo Logo
Welcome to the Galaxy, Guardian!
You'll be receiving a confirmation email

Follow us on twitter :)
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.