asked on
Start over VS upgrade and cleanup???
We are exploring options...
Here's the Question...
What is the Experts Exchange recommended path?
First - I'm reasonably new to this office (almost a year now but not focused previously on the office setup)
Our office has been up an running a little over 2 years on SBS2003. 1 domain controller only. It is also Sharepoint, Exchange, DNS, DHCP, file share server, print server, backup server etc... (suffice it to say - it's the heart of the network).
Active directory structure and group policy are particularly convoluted and although working - are not working well. It's almost to the point that starting over might be best...
Company growth (staffing etc) in past year is well over 100% and expected to continue. We will hit the 75 user limit within 6 months...
My rough plans... are 2 options...
1 - HUGE JOB - build new - addressing new domain, cabling of racks, file and print issues, GP issues etc Time and $$$ are the issue as well as impact to moved users - no trusts available on sbs etc.
2 - cleanup existing - I want to work on Backups as a side project in either case. Once Backups are happening of critical items like exchange, sharepoint, Active directory and server system state, I want to spin up a second DC/DNS (server 2k3 standard). This will give some redundancy to AD (not 100% due to SBS limits). Once the second DC is up, I'd like to install the SBS Transition pack, and CAL transition packs - removing restrictions on SBS and allowing the new DC to be fully functional...
Assuming all goes well, I'll then work on separating the various server tasks out... add an additional DC/DNS(3rd), transfer CALs to new DC, dcpromo down the original SBS server - making it a member server... kill exchange as it will soon be hosted elsewhere (Hosting company)... Leaving only a member server with Sharepoint and a plethora of fileshares and printers to clean up...
your advice would be most appreciated.
Here's the Question...
What is the Experts Exchange recommended path?
First - I'm reasonably new to this office (almost a year now but not focused previously on the office setup)
Our office has been up an running a little over 2 years on SBS2003. 1 domain controller only. It is also Sharepoint, Exchange, DNS, DHCP, file share server, print server, backup server etc... (suffice it to say - it's the heart of the network).
Active directory structure and group policy are particularly convoluted and although working - are not working well. It's almost to the point that starting over might be best...
Company growth (staffing etc) in past year is well over 100% and expected to continue. We will hit the 75 user limit within 6 months...
My rough plans... are 2 options...
1 - HUGE JOB - build new - addressing new domain, cabling of racks, file and print issues, GP issues etc Time and $$$ are the issue as well as impact to moved users - no trusts available on sbs etc.
2 - cleanup existing - I want to work on Backups as a side project in either case. Once Backups are happening of critical items like exchange, sharepoint, Active directory and server system state, I want to spin up a second DC/DNS (server 2k3 standard). This will give some redundancy to AD (not 100% due to SBS limits). Once the second DC is up, I'd like to install the SBS Transition pack, and CAL transition packs - removing restrictions on SBS and allowing the new DC to be fully functional...
Assuming all goes well, I'll then work on separating the various server tasks out... add an additional DC/DNS(3rd), transfer CALs to new DC, dcpromo down the original SBS server - making it a member server... kill exchange as it will soon be hosted elsewhere (Hosting company)... Leaving only a member server with Sharepoint and a plethora of fileshares and printers to clean up...
your advice would be most appreciated.
Windows Server 2003SBS
Last Comment
Jeffrey Kane - TechSoEasy