Best Method for restoring user profiles, documents, and Exchange data to user accounts
I recently bought a new server to replace our aging SBS 2003 box. Our SBS 2003 installation was upgraded in place from SBS 2000 and has been starting to show some significant slowness and quirky behaviors consistent with an old Windows installation. So I need some advice on the best way to migrate my user information to the new box. I could backup all of the data (user profiles, redirected documents, Exchange, & system state) and just do a restore on the new box (I'm assuming that I'll need to name the new server the same name as the old server to do this). My concern is that there could be bad/old data in the system state that I don't want to bring over. Can I just install SBS 2003 fresh on the new box, create user accounts for my users (about 50), then just restore the profiles, redirected documents, Exchange onto the new box? Seems like there could be a permission issue here. I like the idea of not bringing over the legacy of a 6 or 7 year old installation onto my new setup.
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Jeff,
No question that is exactly what I'm looking for. I already have SBS setup on the new server with a different server name. Its all patched up, extra applications are installed etc. Its really ready to drop in, add the user data, and add the PC's to. A couple questions though:
If I continue down this path - the manual reinstall (which I really am attracted to since its essentially starting fresh) - can I backup users Exchange mailboxes and roaming profile folders and just restore them onto the new server? I have Backup Exec 11d, if that helps. I know I can exmerge for the mailboxes, my main concern is the users folders. We have about 18 PC's, but about 50 users, so we use roaming profiles extensively. I know there are all sorts of permissions related issues with home folders.
Also, is this the only way to change the name of the server. We call it KCFD20SERVER now, but if I want to name it KCFDDC, is manual setup the only way to do this?
Thanks,
Sebastian
No question that is exactly what I'm looking for. I already have SBS setup on the new server with a different server name. Its all patched up, extra applications are installed etc. Its really ready to drop in, add the user data, and add the PC's to. A couple questions though:
If I continue down this path - the manual reinstall (which I really am attracted to since its essentially starting fresh) - can I backup users Exchange mailboxes and roaming profile folders and just restore them onto the new server? I have Backup Exec 11d, if that helps. I know I can exmerge for the mailboxes, my main concern is the users folders. We have about 18 PC's, but about 50 users, so we use roaming profiles extensively. I know there are all sorts of permissions related issues with home folders.
Also, is this the only way to change the name of the server. We call it KCFD20SERVER now, but if I want to name it KCFDDC, is manual setup the only way to do this?
Thanks,
Sebastian
"can I backup users Exchange mailboxes and roaming profile folders and just restore them onto the new server? "
For the Exchange Mailboxes, use EXMerge as I had listed in my description of the manual method.
I don't recommend that roaming profiles be used at all in an SBS-based environment. Even with that pc/user ratio there is little reason to use them. SBS automatically configures Outlook's Exchange account and if you run the Folder Redirection Wizard their My Documents are also on the server. You can modify the Folder Redirection Group Policy that the wizard creates to include the desktop as well.
The servername cannot be changed without a full reinstallation.
Jeff
TechSoEasy
For the Exchange Mailboxes, use EXMerge as I had listed in my description of the manual method.
I don't recommend that roaming profiles be used at all in an SBS-based environment. Even with that pc/user ratio there is little reason to use them. SBS automatically configures Outlook's Exchange account and if you run the Folder Redirection Wizard their My Documents are also on the server. You can modify the Folder Redirection Group Policy that the wizard creates to include the desktop as well.
The servername cannot be changed without a full reinstallation.
Jeff
TechSoEasy
ASKER
Thanks for info. I'll give this stuff a shot. Its sort of a big project no matter what method you use....
-S
-S
ASKER
Thanks for your help
Yes it is... that's why careful planning and following a proven migration method is important to ensuring success.
Jeff
TechSoEasy
Jeff
TechSoEasy
ASKER