Running SBS2003 to SBS2011 migration

  1. Do the following Pre-Checks to make sure you won’t have problems during the migration:

 

  • Make sure you are running a Class C subnet (255.255.255.0) – Migration is not supported on other subnets.
  • It is recommended that you only have one NIC active during the migration – No external NIC active (I have done successful migrations with the External NIC active though).
  • Uninstall ISA before you do the migration. This could prevent certain issues that might arise. We had problems with ISA every time we ran the migration with it still on. ISA will definitely cause problems with the mailbox moves (Even if you try the MS workarounds).
  • Ensure event viewer clean – Especially replication and DNS issues.
  • Make sure you don’t have a single label domain name (The domain name has to have a suffix Eg. test.local).

 

  1. Install pre-requisites

 

  • Powershell 2.0
  • MS baseline config analyser

 

  1. Make a backup of system state. You will be able to start over again from this backup should things go wrong.
  2. Run migration preparation tool (From SBS2011 disk) – This will raise functional level and run the necessary steps to prepare the source server for migration.
  3. When done it will scan the source server for problems – Resolve these problems before you continue.
  4. Create the answer file.
  5. Make sure the answer file is on a disk (Flash drive or hard drive) that is connected to the new SBS2011 server (Destinations server) and run the migration from the SBS2011 disk.
  6. Run through all the steps (The migration process can take a couple of hours to complete).
  7. Log in with an admin account but not the built in administrator account (You can’t run the migration step with the built in administrator account).
  8. Run the migration steps (This includes moving the mailboxes, installing the certificate etc.)
  9. Move all data and re-create shares.
  10. Install 3rd party apps.
  11. Configure backups.
  12. Decommission the old server.

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