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Published January 23, 2025

Alex Migutsky

Alex Mihutski

Head of Database Migration Department, Ispirer Systems

Article summary:
Interested in migrating Firebird to SQL Server? This article explains everything you need to know abou the transition: preparation, migration process, migration tools and many more.


Database migration is an inevitable situation that any organization faces sooner or later. It goes without saying that infrastructure gradually becomes outdated. It means that modernization is always a key part of business growth.

This article will closely examine the migration from Firebird to SQL Server. Here's what you can expect to learn:

  • Why migrate from Firebird to SQL Server?
  • How can you effectively prepare for the migration?
  • What methods are available for a successful transition?
  • How can automation simplify the process and save time?

Let's get started!

Why migrate Firebird to SQL Server?

There are several reasons why companies should consider migration from Firebird to another modern database.

  1. Scalability for growing data needs. Firebird is effective for small and medium workloads, but its architecture may struggle to handle enterprise-level operations. Developers design modern databases, such as PostgreSQL, SQL Server, and MySQL, to handle massive workloads without degrading performance. Most modern databases support both horizontal and vertical scaling. This allows organizations to handle larger datasets and more users. They can also run complex queries without losing performance.
  2. Enhanced performance. Most of the modern databases can boast great features that significantly optimize performance over Firebird. Such features include sophisticated indexes (like B-tree, GiST and GIN), which improve querying, parallel query execution, and built-in caching.
  3. Broader ecosystem integration. Many companies select databases that offer extra software and products. This helps create an ecosystem that gives the company many opportunities. An example of this type of ecosystem is Microsoft SQL Server. It offers users many tools related to easy and flexible data management.
  4. Cloud compatibility. Cloud computing becomes the backbone of any IT infrastructure. According to Deloitte, more than 94% of companies use cloud services to some extent. Cloud databases are popular for good reasons. They provide specific benefits, including flexible scalability, cost savings, and resilience.
    But should you move the cloud? Answering this question implies weighing all the pros and cons, and we did it already in our blog.
  5. Future-proofing your technology stack. Migrating a database means replacing an old database with a new and strong one. This is an investment in the future.
    Staying ahead in a competitive market requires adopting technology that evolves with industry trends. Modern databases are designed with future needs in mind, offering support for distributed and microservices architectures and machine learning integrations for data-driven insights. So, from all perspectives, it is a mindful step toward your business development.

Preparing for migration

To successfully migrate Firebird to MSSQL, a thorough assessment of the initial database is necessary. This initial analysis is essential to building a comprehensive migration roadmap.

Typically, a group of professionals analyzes the database and assumes potential issues. At Ispirer, we choose to streamline all processes that can be streamlined. That is why we created Assessment Wizard. What is it?

Ispirer Assessment Wizard is a tool for analyzing databases before migration. It estimates the database's volume and complexity and assesses the potential automation rate using SQLWays Wizard for migration.

Based on the comprehensive assessment reports, the Ispirer experts can estimate the migration time required for a Firebird to SQL Server migration and the cost of the migration project.

Migrating Firebird to SQL Server

There are two main ways to migrate Firebird: manual and automatic. In this article, we will not focus on the manual migration method, which takes a lot of effort and is not the best way to migrate.

This article will focus on automated database migration using SQLWays Wizard. This solution fully automates the migration process from Firebird to SQL Server from A to Z.

Its smart engine allows you to migrate the database sql objects, including data, tables, stored procedures, functions, indexes, and views. The tool supports a wide range of databases, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Firebird, Interbase, Informix, IBM DB2, and others.

To make default conversion quality better, the product supports customization to achieve 100% automation of the migration process. Ispirer experts can always prepare a personal version of the product to fully meet your migration needs. Such a flexible approach significantly saves resources compared to manual conversion.

The product also includes an AI assistant that allows you to automate and significantly simplify post-migration database optimization. Such an approach can save up to 80% of time on database optimization.

Now let’s review the main steps of SQLWays Wizard to successfully migrate Firebird to SQL Server.

Step 1. Select the proper directory

The first welcome page of the toolkit contains information about your license. Users should specify a project directory once the tool is installed and registered with a valid license. It is a directory that will store all the conversion results and auxiliary files.

Welcome page

Step 2. Source options

On the second page you need to specify the source database that contains objects you need to migrate. Please select or create an ODBC connection to the source database to do that. Also, please specify the username and password for that connection, which will be verified after clicking the "Next" button.

Source options

Step 3. Target options

You should provide details about the SQL Server database on the third page. Provide the server and the database name, the username, and the password.

Please note that the target database should already exist and be available when the import operations start. The wizard doesn't create a target database.

You should also specify a Bin directory on this page. The directory stores all the native utilities on your computer where SQLWays Wizard is installed.

Target options

Step 4. Objects selection

Please drag and drop all the objects you want to migrate from the left tree to the right one here. SQLWays Wizard effortlessly transforms all SQL objects, such as tables, triggers, functions, views, stored procedures, sequences, and more.

Objects selection

Step 5. Specify conversion options

SQLWays Wizard also provides options to improve the conversion quality through various settings. On the object tree on the page, various objects possess distinct available settings, for example, mapping for data types and column names, formats, files, schemas, tables, and different types of SQL objects.

Conversion options

Step 6. Review the summary page

This page allows you to look at SQLWays Wizard's settings before running the migration.

Summary page

Step 7. Migration execution

Once the configuration is complete, you can start the migration. The migration process consists of 2 stages: conversion and import. In the conversion phase, the tool gathers data on the SQL objects, transforms them, and produces the corresponding set of files. At the import stage, the tool creates all the converted objects and data in the SQL Server database.

To initiate the conversion, press the "Start conversion" button. The "Conversion output” text box will display details about the conversion process live.

Once the conversion process is complete, you can begin the import process to create the converted items in the target database. To start this, click on the "Start Import" button. To access details regarding the import results, kindly navigate to the "Import output" tab.

Additionally, SQLWays Wizard offers a feature that starts the import process automatically. It is a helpful button, especially if you expect it to take a long time if you have many objects and their complexity. To enable the option, click the checkbox "Start Import Automatically".

Furthermore, you can utilize an AI assistant that can assist in correcting conversion mistakes in the produced code or offer recommendations for enhancement. Such an assistant can easily replace the need of additional post-migration optimization service.

Migration execution

Step 8. Migration results

The final page provides reports and statistics about conversion and import in the corresponding tabs. Once you hit the "Finish" button, the conversion settings will be stored for future users, and the wizard will be shut down.

This step allows users to review the reports, analyze conversion errors (if any), configure the tool, and start conversion again. If you have any issues at this point, you can get assistance from the Ispirer support team or choose SQLWays Wizard customization, which ensures up to 100% automated migration from Firebird to SQL Server.

Migration reports

Wrapping up

In this article, we have considered the process of migration from Firebird to SQL Server in detail. Now, you understand the existing migration methods, the details of the conversion process, and the reasons for its necessity.

Want to try automatic migration? Book a meeting with our experts and see the effectiveness of SQLWays Wizard for your migration from Firebird. The tool effectively converts all types of SQL objects, migrates data, and allows you to optimize the resulting code quickly using Ispirer AI assistant.