Trnsferring SBS to New Server

Topic

New Reply

The server that is running Small Business Server 2003 Premium edition needs to be replaced.

Is there any software similar to the (now defunct) PC Relocator that would move all of the software from the old server to the new server?

Assuming there isn’t and that I have to re-load the software on a new server (along with setting up user profiles, moving Exchange mailboxes, moving SQL databases, etc.) am I going to have any problem with Microsoft’s software activation?

Thanks,

Reply | Quote

Replies

If you want to preserve the same server configuration, just sysprep your installation and copy all partitions (drive to drive) to the new hard drive (to the new machine).

Sysprep and reference files are in DEPLOY.CAB in SUPPORTTOOLS folder in the Server Installation CD.
Do not forget to include your Installation Key in sysprep.inf file as well as your server computername, time zone, phone area code and other settings. See deploy.chm for more information.
If you need to install specific drivers for your new machine (especially SATA drivers), copy them to your hard drive and include references (to each folder containing .inf file) in OemPnPDriversPath line in sysprep.inf.
I would recommend to use sysprep.exe -mini -quiet -reseal switches when applying sysprep.

For more information about Windows Product Activation, see http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?…kb;en-us;299840%5B/url%5D

Reply | Quote

I got the impression from the SBS Administrator’s Companion that sysprep was useful when the old and new servers were pretty close to identical.

Was this a bad assumption on my part?

Reply | Quote

You need to make sure you can legally do this. Check your license agreement. If you bought SBS from an OEM it might be tied to the BIOS of the original server in which case you won’t be able to install it on the new server.

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote

No. I have a license for SBS. I purchased it separately from the old server and have the original installation disks.

Reply | Quote

I got the impression from the SBS Administrator’s Companion that sysprep was useful when the old and new servers were pretty close to identical.

No, this is not entirely true. As long as you have all necessary drivers, mini-setup will recognize a new configuration and will search for the drivers. Do not forget to use -mini switch !
You can also force Setup to reinstall all PnP devices by adding -pnp switch.

But you are right, in previous versions of Windows (WinNT, for instance) migration between different models was next to impossible.

Reply | Quote