Install Windows Small Business Server 2008 in Migration Mode for Windows SBS 2008 migration

Updated: January 22, 2009

Applies To: Windows SBS 2008

You can have only one server on your network that is running Windows SBS 2008, and that server must be a domain controller for the network.

Important

Unlike previous versions, Windows SBS 2008 requires a 64-bit server. Windows SBS 2008 does not support a 32-bit processor architecture.

When you install Windows SBS 2008 in Migration Mode, the following tasks are accomplished:

  • Windows SBS 2008 is installed and configured on the Destination Server.

  • The Destination Server is joined to the existing domain. Both the Source Server and the Destination Server can be members of the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) domain until the migration process is finished. After the migration is finished, you must remove the Source Server from the network within 21 days.

Note

An error message is added to the event log each day during the 21 day grace period until you remove the Source Server from your network. The error message says, "Multiple domain controllers running Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server have been detected in your domain. To prevent this computer from shutting down in the future, you must remove all but one of these from the domain." After the 21 day grace period, the Source Server will shut down.

  • The operations master (also called flexible single master operations or FSMO) roles are transferred from the Source Server to the Destination Server. Operations master roles in AD DS are specialized domain-controller tasks, which are used when standard data-transfer and update methods are inadequate. When the Destination Server becomes a domain controller, it must hold the operations master roles.

  • The Destination Server becomes a global catalog server. The global catalog server is a domain controller that manages a distributed data repository. It contains a searchable, partial representation of every object in every domain in the AD DS forest.

  • The Destination Server becomes the site licensing server.

  • The DHCP Server service is installed and configured on the Destination Server. Only one DHCP Server service can be active in the Windows SBS 2008 network. The responsibility for managing the DHCP Server service is transferred from the Source Server to the Destination Server.

Note

Before you start the migration, you should enable the DHCP Server service on the Source Server, not on the router.

Warning

Make sure to disable Windows Server Update Services before running the Windows SBS 2008 installation in Migration Mode.

To install Windows Small Business Server 2008 on the Destination Server

  1. Turn on the Destination Server and insert Windows SBS 2008 DVD1 in the DVD drive. If you see a message asking if you want to boot from a CD or DVD, press any key to do so.

Note

If the Destination Server does not boot from the DVD, restart the computer and check the BIOS Setup to ensure that DVD-ROM is listed first in the boot sequence. For more information about how to change the BIOS Setup boot sequence, see your hardware manufacturer's documentation.

Note

If the removable media that contains the answer file is a USB device, you must change the boot order in the BIOS Setup to assure that the server does not attempt to boot to the USB device.

  1. The installation wizard starts loading files into memory.

  2. Verify your language and regional preferences, and then click Next.

  3. Insert the USB device or other removable media that contains the migration answer file in the Destination Server, and then click Install Now.

Note

The migration answer file is automatically detected on the root of any drive. If the migration answer file is configured to run the installation in unattended mode, the migration uses values from the file and you are not prompted for them unless they are invalid or missing from the answer file.

  1. On the Type your product key for activation page, type your product key in the text box, and then click Next.

  2. Read the license terms. If you accept them, select the I accept the license terms check box, and then click Next.

Note

If you do not choose to accept the license terms, the installation does not continue.

  1. On the Which type of installation do you want page, click Custom (advanced).

  2. If you need to install drivers for your server hardware, on the Where do you want to install Windows? page, click Drive options (advanced), and then click Load Driver.

    1. Insert the media that contains the drivers, and then click Browse on the Load driver dialog box.

    2. Browse to the location of the drivers, and then click OK.

    3. When you finish installing the drivers, on the Select the driver to be installed page, click Next. You are returned to the Where do you want to install Windows? page.

  3. On the Where do you want to install Windows? page, create and then select the partition where you want to install the operating system.

    1. If the hard disk drive that you want to use is not listed, such as a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) drive, you must download the driver for the hard disk drive. Obtain the driver from the manufacturer, and then save it to removable media, such as a USB drive. Insert the removable media in your server, click Drive options (advanced), and then click Load Driver. After the driver is loaded and the hard disk drive is listed, complete step c or d.

    2. To create a partition from unpartitioned space, click the hard disk drive that you want to partition, click Drive options (advanced), click New, and then type the partition size in the text box. For example, if you use the recommended partition size of 60 gigabytes (GB), type 60000, and then click Apply. After the partition is created, click Next. The partition is formatted before continuing.

    3. To create a partition that uses all of the unpartitioned space, click the hard disk drive that you want to partition, click Drive options (advanced), click New, and then click Apply to accept the default partition size. After the partition is created, click Next. The partition is formatted before continuing.

Important

After you finish this step, you cannot change the partition that you install the operating system on.

  1. The operating system is installed on the partition that you selected, which takes a few minutes. After the operating system is installed, the Destination Server restarts.

  2. If the migration answer file is successfully detected, the Start the migration page is displayed. You must click the I have a current backup check box and the I have read the most recent version of the Migration Guide check box before you can click Next.

Important

It is important that you have a current, validated backup of the Source Server because the migration makes permanent changes to the Source Server. If you encounter an issue during the migration and you need to return the Source Server to its original state, you must restore the backup. It is also important that you read the Migration Guide before you start the migration, because the process is complex and requires some preparation of the Source Server. The Migration Guide helps assure a successful migration to Windows SBS 2008.

Note

If the migration answer file is configured for unattended mode, steps 11 through 15 are completed automatically, unless information in the migration answer file is invalid or missing.

Note

If the migration answer file is configured for attended mode, the text boxes on the following installation pages are populated with the information that you provided in the migration answer file. If the information is not correct, you can change it before you click Next.

Warning

If the migration answer is configured for attended mode, clear Get Installation Updates in Answer File settings. Do not allow installation updates, they can be run at a different time.

  1. On the Verify the clock and time zone settings page, click Open Date and Time to verify the clock and time zone settings to check the date, time, and time zone settings. When you are finished, click Next.

  2. On the Source and Destination Server networking information page, verify that the IP addresses of the Source and Destination Servers and the default gateway IP address are correct. If appropriate, click the DHCP is running on the Source Server check box. Then click Next.

  3. On the Source and Destination Server information page, verify that the information about the Source Server, domain administrator account, Destination Server, and certification authority are correct, and then click Next.

Note

You cannot change the Destination Server name or the internal domain name after you finish this step.

  1. On the Get important updates page, if the Destination Server is connected to the Internet, click Go online and get the most recent installation updates (recommended). If it is not connected to the Internet, click Do not get the most recent installation updates. After the installation finishes and you configure Internet access, you can go online and get the most recent updates.

  2. If you selected this option, the Connecting your server page is displayed and the most recent installation updates are downloaded.

  3. On the Company information page, verify that the information is correct, and then click Next. The information is used to configure server tools so that you do not have to supply the same information multiple times.

  4. The Expanding and installing files page displays the progress of the final installation process. When the Windows SBS 2008 installation finishes, the server restarts.

  5. After the server restarts, the Installation finished page is displayed. Click Start the Migration Wizard to close the page and to start using the Windows SBS Console. The Home page of the Windows SBS Console displays the Getting Started Tasks.

    If the installation finishes with issues, the Installation finished page is displayed. Click View installation issues to close the page and to review the issues. When you close the page, the Windows SBS Console displays the Home page with the Getting Started Tasks, where you can start using the Destination Server and resolving the issues.

  6. To complete the migration process, you must migrate settings and data from the Source Server to the Destination Server by using the Migration Wizard. For information about running the Migration Wizard, see Move settings and data to the Destination Server for Windows SBS 2008 migration.

Note

You may receive a Program Compatibility warning message for the Windows SBS 2003 logon script. Click Cancel to exit the warning message. To fix the issue, you must disable or delete the logon script. For additional information, see Remove old logon scripts for Windows SBS migration.

  • If the desktop is locked while Windows SBS 2008 is being installed and before the Destination Server is promoted to a domain controller, you can unlock the desktop by using the built-in administrator account and leaving the password blank.

  • If the desktop is locked while Windows SBS 2008 is being installed and after the Destination Server is promoted to a domain controller, you can unlock the desktop by using the administrator user account and the password that you provided in the migration answer file.

  • After the installation finishes, you are automatically logged on using the administrator user account and password that you provided in the migration answer file.

  • To avoid issues when users add printers on their client computers, ensure that the 64-bit drivers for your shared printers are available on the network.