Upgrade Process from SQL 2005 to SQL 2012

Question

Hi All,
I have gone thru multiple threads and would like to understand some steps in detail for me to upgrade SQL 2005 to SQL 2012.
Below is my understanding and questions around it, I would be setting up a new environment with OS 2007/2008 with SQL 2012:
Environment Readiness - Ensure new environment is ready with Win 2007/2008 with SQL 2012 Server
Run Upgrade Advisor on the new environment and point to SQL 2005 instance
Find the breaking/discontinued changes to be done before or After Upgrade
<Question>: Over here I would like to know what should be our approach to make the required changes
<Question>: Obviously I should not be making changes directly on the Production SQL 2005 server, then in that case should I take a backup/restore on the new SQL Server 2012 and then make the required changes to the database objects
like (Table schema(changing column names/datatypes etc.), Stored Procedure, Functions & Views)
<Question>: When I do a backup/restore I would also get the data along with it, so is this a recommended approach or should we only run/use the table schema creation scripts, fix the issues identified by UA and then do an Table to Table import,
any thoughts on this ?
<Question>: If I have to do a table to table Import then I should ensure there's a downtime during the Import or would I have any other better approach          
So, basically my questions are around the approach of fixing the issues identified by UA and moving the database to SQL Server 2012 environment, I have around 300 databased to me upgraded.
Please do let me know what should be a good/proven approach ? Pl. do let me know if you would need any more details from me.
---Umesh

Answer 1

Thanks all for the replies.
I am trying summarize what I have understood here:
Document SQL Server 2005 environment details, Is there any tool which could give us all relevant details
I would take the backup from the SQL Server 2005 Production environment and then restore the same in a test environment which again has SQL Server 2005 and Run Upgrade Advisor on that
Probbaly run SQL Profiler as well to find out the deprecated changes to be done
I should fix all the breaking, discontinued changes on the Test system identified by UA
I should fix all the deprecated changes on the Test system identified by SQL Profiler
Steps 3 & 4 should give me the changed scripts for all database objects (i.e. Table Schema, Stored Procedures, Functions & Views)
<Question> Perform test, I understand this acitivity test can be captured by having SQL profiler running in the background on the SQL Server 2005 production environment where we can identify some days in a week or a month where maximum activity is
expected to ensure we cover most the scenarios, let me know is this approach looks fine or is there a better approach
Now, with regards to acutal upgrade I need to identify a time window where in less activity is done during which I could have a downtime for the actual SQL Server 2005 production environment
Post downtine, I should do a BackUp for all databases from SQL Server 2005 production environment
Test on environment readiness of SQL Server 2012 can be compared against the documentation done as part of the first Step
<Question> Ideally I should a restore first in the new environment which has SQL Server 2012
<Question> Then run the Scripted changes where we fixed all the breaking, discontinued & deprecated changes
<Question> Does above sequence of Step 9 & 10 make sense or is there a better approach of doing it
<Question> Post Upgrade and running of changed scripts, I should run the Upgrade Advisor again and see if everything looks fine
<Question> Perform test again which we ran on SQL Server 2005 Test environment
<Question> These steps should complete the Upgrade process.
Please do let me know if the above sequence look ok to all of you and does it really work in a practical scenario, do let me know your feedback or any change in sequence/process or any other tools that can be used here.
Thanks Again ...