ASP.NET MVC 4, Migrations - How to run 'update-database' on a production server

Question

I can use package manager to run \'update-database -verbose\' locally.

Probably a stupid question but I can\'t find it online - once my website is deployed - how can I r

Answer 1

You have a couple of options:

• You could use update-database -script to generate the SQL commands to update the database on the server
• You could use the migrate.exe executable file that resides in the package folder on /packages/EntityFramework5.0.0/tools/migrate.exe. I've used it successfully in the past with Jet Brains' Team City Build Server to setup the migrations with my deploy scripts.
• If you're using IIS Web Deploy you can tell the server to perform the migrations after publish (see pic below)
• You could setup automatic migrations, but I prefer to be in control of when things happen :)

Update: Also, check out Sayed Ibrahim's blog, he works on the MsBuild Team at Microsoft and has some great insights on deployments