Migrating Windows Small Business Server 2003 to Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials

  • Article

Published: March 31, 2011

Updated: May 12, 2011

Applies To: Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials

This guide describes how to migrate an existing Windows SBS 2003 domain to Windows SBS 2011 Essentials on new hardware, and then to migrate the settings and data. This guide also describes how to remove your existing server from the Windows SBS 2011 Essentials network after you finish the migration.

Important

Windows SBS 2011 Essentials requires a 64-bit environment. Windows SBS 2011 Essentials does not support a 32-bit environment.

Important

To avoid problems during migration, we recommend that you read this document before you begin the migration.

Note

To download the most recent printable version of this guide, see Migrating Windows Small Business Server 2003 to Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials in the Microsoft® Download Center.

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. Windows SBS 2011 Essentials Setup uses an answer file 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 migration. To transfer the global catalog from the Source Server, 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 from the Source 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. Delete the old folder redirection Group Policy object for Windows SBS 2011 Essentials migration. Use the Group Policy Management Console to delete the old Folder Redirection Group Policy object from the Destination Server.

  11. Perform 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.

  12. 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 BPA.

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.