Migrate Windows Small Business Server 2003 to Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard

Published: December 23, 2010

Updated: May 5, 2011

Applies To: Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard

This guide describes how to migrate an existing Windows® Small Business Server 2003 domain to Windows® Small Business Server 2011 Standard, and then migrate your settings and data. This guide also describes how to remove your existing server from the Windows SBS 2011 Standard network after you finish the migration.

Important

To avoid problems while migrating your existing server to Windows SBS 2011 Standard, we recommend that you read this document before beginning the migration.

Additional resources

For links to additional information, tools, and community resources to help guide you through the migration process, visit the Windows Small Business Server Migration website.

Terms and definitions

Source Server: The existing server from which you are migrating your settings and data.

Destination Server: The new server to which you are migrating your settings and data.

If the Windows SBS 2011 Standard network to which you are migrating will contain more than one server, the following terms are used to distinguish the servers:

Primary Server: The first server on a Windows SBS 2011 Standard network that contains more than one server.

Second Server: The second server on a Windows SBS 2011 Standard network. The Second Server runs the Windows SBS 2011 Premium Add-on.

Migration process summary

This Migration Guide includes the following steps:

  1. Prepare your Source Server for Windows SBS 2011 Standard migration.

    You must ensure that your Source Server and network are ready for migration. This section guides you through backing up the Source Server, evaluating the Source Server system health, installing the most recent service packs and fixes, verifying the network configuration, and raising the functional level of the Active Directory Domain Services domain and forest. You must also run the Migration Preparation Tool on the Source Server, which updates the Active Directory® Domain Services schema, installs an update that extends the time limit for the migration, and configures Exchange Server to support migration.

  2. Create a migration answer file for Windows SBS 2011 Standard migration.

    An answer file is used by Windows SBS 2011 Standard Setup to automate the installation and run Setup in migration mode. This section introduces you to the migration answer file and guides you through using the Answer File Tool to create the migration answer file.

  3. Install Windows SBS 2011 Standard in migration mode.

    This section explains how to use the migration answer file to install Windows SBS 2011 Standard on the Destination Server in migration mode.

  4. Move settings and data to the Destination Server for Windows SBS 2011 Standard migration.

    The Migration Wizard helps you migrate settings and data from the Source Server to Windows SBS 2011 Standard. This section explains how to use the Migration Wizard and provides information about the settings and data that you can migrate.

  5. Move Exchange Server mailboxes and settings for Windows SBS 2011 Standard migration.

    Clean up the Exchange Server database, verify its integrity, and use the Migration Wizard to move Exchange Server mailboxes and settings.

  6. Remove legacy Active Directory Group Policy objects and logon settings for Windows SBS 2011 Standard migration.

    In Windows SBS 2011 Standard, the Windows SBS 2003 logon scripts are replaced with a combination of logon scripts and Group Policy objects.

  7. Move users' shared data for Windows SBS 2011 Standard migration.

    Use the RoboCopy tool to copy shared data and folders.

  8. Move the internal website for Windows SBS 2011 Standard migration.

    This section describes the procedures in the Migration Wizard that are necessary to move the internal website and content database to the Destination Server.

  9. Move fax data for Windows SBS 2011 Standard migration.

    Install and configure the Fax service on the Destination Server and then use the Migration Wizard to migrate fax data.

  10. Migrate Windows Server Update Services data and settings.

    Export software updates and metadata from the Source Server, and then import them to the Destination Server.

  11. Move user accounts and groups for Windows SBS 2011 Standard migration.

    Perform the procedures in this section to display the migrated users, security groups, and distribution lists in the Windows SBS 2011 Standard Console.

  12. Enable folder redirection on the Destination Server for Windows SBS 2011 Standard migration.

    Enable Windows SBS 2011 Standard folder redirection by using the Windows SBS 2011 Standard Console, and then delete the old Group Policy object on the Source Server.

  13. Move Terminal Services Licensing Server for Windows SBS 2011 Standard migration.

    If the Source Server is running the Terminal Services Licensing service, you must migrate the service before you decommission the Source Server.

  14. Finish Windows SBS 2011 Standard migration.

    After completing the tasks in the Migration Wizard, you will need to demote and remove the Source Server from the network, as well as performing other tasks.

  15. Delete the old folder redirection Group Policy object for Windows SBS 2011 Standard migration.

    This is the final task for establishing folder redirection on the Destination Server. Perform this task only if you had folder redirection enabled on the Source Server.

  16. Give the built-in Administrators group the right to logon as batch job for Windows SBS 2011 Standard migration.

    Verify that the built-in Administrator group has the right to log on as a batch job to the Destination Server.

  17. Delete DNS entries of the Source Server for Windows SBS 2011 Standard migration

    After you decommission the Source Server, you will need to delete the DNS entries that point to the Source Server.

  18. Optional post-migration tasks for Windows SBS 2011 Standard migration.

    After you finish migrating all settings and data to Windows SBS 2011 Standard, you may want to map permitted computers to user accounts, enable folder redirection, configure POP3 connectors, or update mailbox quotas on your new server.

  19. Run the Windows Server Solutions Best Practices Analyzer.

    After you finish migrating settings and data to Windows SBS 2011 Standard, you should download and run the Windows® Server Solutions Best Practices Analyzer.