SBS 2003 Hardware Upgrade

In May of 2008, I wrote the article SBS 2003 Hardware Migration/Upgrade. Since then, I’ve been asked many times about my process for doing a SBS 2003 hardware upgrade. In general, I just have to say “I follow the steps”.

As I recommended in my original article, if the Microsoft white paper isn’t detailed enough for you, I recommend SBS MVP Jeff Middleton’s SBS Migration Tools.

However, this weekend I had the opportunity to upgrade the hardware for another client of mine, and I wrote down each step as I did it. This list of steps may encourage you to NOT do this. 🙂 There are many opportunities for error. This is a simple list of steps – if you don’t know what the shorthand means – you probably shouldn’t be doing it! 😛 Some of these one-line steps can consume quite a bit of time (e.g., “move wss” – the process is an entire white paper all on its own).

I execute this process in three phases. Phase I is basically “install the software on the new hardware.” Phase II is “configure the software and prepare for migration.” Phase III is “complete the migration.”

Phase I

-1] basic SBS 2003 RTM install
0] Join to AD domain
1] Dcpromo
2] Install DNS and DHCP
3] Change to AD integrated DNS
4] Update NIC(s)
5] move fsmo roles
6] update setup.sdb per http://theessentialexchange.com/blogs/michael/archive/2008/05/18/sbs-2003-hardware-migration-upgrade.aspx
7] Complete the SBS 2003 install
8] install Server 2003 sp1 (WindowsServer2003-KB889101-SP1-x86-ENU.exe)
9] Install kb 930045 (WindowsServer2003-KB930045-v5-x86-ENU.exe)
10] install WSS 2.0 sp1 (WSS2003SP1-kb841876-fullfile-enu.exe)
11] install Exchange 2003 sp1 (E3SP1ENG.exe)
12] install Windows XP sp2 for client deployment (SBS2003-KB891193-X86-ENU.EXE)
13] install SBS 2003 sp1 (SBS2003-KB885918-SP1-X86-ENU.EXE)
14] install Server 2003 sp2 (WindowsServer2003-KB914961-SP2-x86-ENU.exe)
15] install Exchange 2003 sp2 (E3SP2ENG.EXE)
16] Install kb 943494 (WindowsServer2003-KB943494-v4-x86-ENU.exe)
17] Install kb 930045 (WindowsServer2003-KB930045-v5-x86-ENU.exe)
18] install Resource Kit Tools (rktools.exe)
19] install Server Support Tools (suptools.msi)
20] install kb 943545 (WindowsServer2003-KB943545-x86-ENU.exe)
21] install Windows-Update/Microsoft-Update patches
22] install OpenManage/Server management tools
23] install FileserverTweaks.reg
24] move fsmo back (only domain fsmo, leave forest alone)

Phase II

1] configure remote access (ie, vpn)
2] activate server
3] add client licenses
4] configure SBS monitoring
5] configure exchange server
Copy Database Size limit – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa998066.aspx
Verify server property configurations
Change Offline Address List server for all Offline Address Lists
Update Recipient Update Service Config
Copy SMTP Connector / Default SMTP Virtual Server
Replicate public folders
6] install AV Server
7] install AV Client
8] move ssl certs
9] verify RPC/HTTPs config
10] set up new backup
11] move printers
12] move shares
13] initial file copy

On old server:
1] Install kb 943494 (WindowsServer2003-KB943494-v4-x86-ENU.exe)
2] Install kb 930045 (WindowsServer2003-KB930045-v5-x86-ENU.exe)
3] install kb 943545 (WindowsServer2003-KB943545-x86-ENU.exe)

Phase III

1] move fsmo
2] move mailboxes
3] move DHCP
4] move a/v clients
5] move WSS/SharePoint
6] move websites
7] move wsus
8] check/move Scheduled Tasks
9] move files
10] cut-overUntil next time…

As always, if there are items you would like me to talk about, please drop me a line and let me know!


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