Updated: June 17, 2009
Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2
Migration documentation and tools ease the process of migrating server roles, operating system settings, and data from an existing server that is running Windows Server® 2003, Windows Server® 2008, or Windows Server® 2008 R2 to a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 R2. By using migration guides linked to on this page (and where appropriate, Windows Server Migration Tools) to migrate roles, you can simplify deployment of new servers (including those that are running the Server Core installation option of Windows Server 2008 R2, and virtual servers), reduce migration downtime, increase accuracy of the migration process, and help eliminate conflicts that could otherwise occur during the migration process.
Most of the migration documentation and tools featured on this page support cross-architecture migrations (x86-based to x64-based computing platforms), migrations between physical and virtual environments, and migrations between both the full and Server Core installation options of the Windows Server operating system, where available.
The following are resources for migrating roles, features, settings, and other data to Windows Server 2008 R2.
Server role migration guides provide you with instructions for migrating an existing server that is running a single role to a server that is running Windows Server 2008 R2. Guides do not contain instructions for migration when the source server is running multiple roles. If your server is running multiple roles, it is recommended that you design a custom migration procedure specific to your server environment, based on the information provided in other role migration guides.
Active Directory Domain Services and Domain Name System (DNS) Server Migration Guide
Windows Server 2008 R2
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Server Migration Guide
File Services Migration Guide
Print Services Migration Guide
BranchCache Migration Guide
Data and Share Migration (see File Services Migration Guide)
IP Configuration Migration Guide
Local User and Group Migration Guide
Windows Server Migration Tools, available as a feature in Windows Server 2008 R2, allows an administrator to migrate some server roles, features, operating system settings, shares, and other data from computers that are running certain editions of Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2008 R2 to computers that are running Windows Server 2008 R2.
The migration guides linked to from this page provide specific instructions for how to use Windows Server Migration Tools to help you migrate roles, features, or other data to computers that are running Windows Server 2008 R2.
To use Windows Server Migration Tools, the feature must be installed on both source and destination computers as described in the following guide.
Microsoft Solution Accelerators
How to use the Exchange Migration Wizard
User State Migration Tool 3.0
Application Considerations When Upgrading to Windows Server 2008
TechNet Server Migration Forum
Failover Cluster Step-by-Step Guide: Migrating Cluster Settings from Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008
Migrate to SQL Server (SQL Server Migration Assistants)
Step-by-Step: Windows 7 Upgrade and Migration
Guide for Upgrading to Windows Server 2008
Demos and resources: Using the Windows Server 2008 R2 Migration Tools
Active Directory Certificate Services Upgrade and Migration Guide
Upgrading to SQL Server 2008
Windows Automated Installation Kit for Windows 7
Known Issues When Upgrading to Windows Server 2008
Microsoft Web (IIS) Deployment Tool
Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 Migration Tool
Networking Team Blog: How to migrate DHCP Server from Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000 Server to Windows Server 2008