SQL Server 2008 Upgrade Advisor is designed to be used at the stage of planning an upgrade of SQL Server 2000 or 2005 to the latest version. Analyzes currently installed instances, and then identifies changes or novelties that may cause problems in a particular environment. Scanning can also be done to a remote server (except for Reporting Services component analysis).

In summary, the tool indicates where to look for information on possible solutions in the online documentation. SQL Server 2008 Upgrade Advisor analysis does not make any changes to the existing configuration.