Migrating Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials to New Hardware

Published: March 31, 2011

Updated: May 12, 2011

Applies To: Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials

This guide describes how to migrate an existing domain that is running Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials to new hardware that is running Windows SBS 2011 Essentials, and then migrate the settings and data. This guide also describes how to remove your existing server from the network that is running Windows SBS 2011 Essentials after you finish 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.

Migration process summary

This migration guide includes the following steps:

1. Prepare your Source Server for Windows SBS 2011 Essentials 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, and verifying the network configuration.

2. Create a migration answer file for Windows SBS 2011 Essentials migration. An answer file is used by Windows SBS 2011 Essentials Setup to automate the installation and run Setup in migration mode. This section guides you through creating the migration answer file.

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

4. Transfer the operations master roles for Windows SBS 2011 Essentials migration. The operations master roles must be transferred to the Destination Server within 21 days of installing Windows SBS 2011 Essentials on the Destination Server.

5. Transfer the global catalog to the Destination Server for Windows SBS 2011 Essentials migration. To transfer the global catalog, you will create a new global catalog on the Destination Server, and then remove the existing global catalog on the Source Server.

6. Import users and the Destination Server into the Dashboard for Windows SBS 2011 Essentials migration. You can use Windows PowerShell commands to import user names and the Destination Server into the Dashboard, or you can use a script to automate the import process.

7. Join computers to the new Windows SBS 2011 Essentials network. This section covers joining client computers to the new Windows SBS 2011 Essentials network and updating Group Policy settings.

8. Move settings and data to the Destination Server for Windows SBS 2011 Essentials migration. This section provides information about migrating data and settings to the Destination Server.

9. Demote and remove the Source Server from the new Windows SBS 2011 Essentials network. Prior to removing the Source Server from the network, you must force a group policy update and demote the Source Server.

10. Optional post-migration tasks for Windows SBS 2011 Essentials migration. After you finish migrating all settings and data to Windows SBS 2011 Essentials, you may want to map permitted computers to user accounts.

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

Several of the migration procedures require that you open a Command Prompt window as an Administrator.

To open a Command Prompt window as an Administrator

1. Click Start.

2. In the search box, type cmd.

3. In the list of results, right-click cmd, and then click Run as administrator.