Moving from Windows SBS 2003 to Server 2008
Hello
We've been running happlily on SBS 2003 for over 5 years now, and have another database server in the domain running Windows Server 2003.
We want to now add some redundancy to our network.
So we are interested in purchasing a new server as our primary domain controller, and creating a new domain.
We would link our database server to this domain, and use it as a backup domain controller, and as well would re-purpose our current SBS server as an additional application server.
I am seriously considering using Google Apps for our email now, to get that function out of Exchange.
Could someone please advise what kind of server I should consider for the main new server - should it be Server 2008, and if so would that allow a 2k3 server to be the backup domain controller?
I'd also like to see if it's possible to have the ability to run some virtual machines on the new server, or if that would be going too far.
Many thanks
We've been running happlily on SBS 2003 for over 5 years now, and have another database server in the domain running Windows Server 2003.
We want to now add some redundancy to our network.
So we are interested in purchasing a new server as our primary domain controller, and creating a new domain.
We would link our database server to this domain, and use it as a backup domain controller, and as well would re-purpose our current SBS server as an additional application server.
I am seriously considering using Google Apps for our email now, to get that function out of Exchange.
Could someone please advise what kind of server I should consider for the main new server - should it be Server 2008, and if so would that allow a 2k3 server to be the backup domain controller?
I'd also like to see if it's possible to have the ability to run some virtual machines on the new server, or if that would be going too far.
Many thanks
ASKER
About 15 users and up to 10 automated robots use our network.
Is it possible to integrate our existing Windows Server as a secondary DC on our current SBS network?
Is it possible to integrate our existing Windows Server as a secondary DC on our current SBS network?
ASKER
Yes - Standard/Enterprise (if necessary)
First thing you can't have two sbs server in one domain.
Second a sbs server must hold all the FSMO role.
If you considering going to windows 2008 as an SBS,you will not able to use sbs 2003 & you have to remove.
Creating second domain will not provide redundancy for first as both will have different AD.
http://uksbsguy.com/blogs/doverton/archive/2008/07/02/how-to-migrate-from-sbs-2003-to-small-business-server-2008-sbs-2008.aspx
Second a sbs server must hold all the FSMO role.
If you considering going to windows 2008 as an SBS,you will not able to use sbs 2003 & you have to remove.
Creating second domain will not provide redundancy for first as both will have different AD.
http://uksbsguy.com/blogs/doverton/archive/2008/07/02/how-to-migrate-from-sbs-2003-to-small-business-server-2008-sbs-2008.aspx
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ASKER
Hi there
When I said I want to make a second domain, I meant as a replacement for the initial SBS domain - to allow redundancy.
Could I use dcpromo on our second server right now, to add this redundancy?
When I said I want to make a second domain, I meant as a replacement for the initial SBS domain - to allow redundancy.
Could I use dcpromo on our second server right now, to add this redundancy?
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ASKER
Hi acox65807, when you say 'the SBS server will start bouncing', what do you mean?
It will start rebooting after 1 week. Every hour!! IF it does not hold all the forest roles.
You can apply a patch that extends the one week grace period to 21 days for complicated migration scenarios, this still doesn't help though!! The SBS will shut down rather than reboot, about once every two hours. Also if you add a 2008 member server, dcpromo it, transfer the fsmo roles, dcpromo the sbs down and remove it from the domain, you are not left with a 2008 domain, you are left with a 2008 domain with the sbs limitations, i.e. no trusts and 75 users max. This may or may not be a problem! To avoid this you need to use the transition pack. You can have more than one site in an SBS domain though.
"When I said I want to make a second domain, I meant as a replacement for the initial SBS domain - to allow redundancy.
Could I use dcpromo on our second server right now, to add this redundancy?"
Adding a second domain will not add any redundancy. To achieve redundancy you need to add a second domain controller to your existing domain, so that if the primary domain controller fails, your domain survives to fight another day. I would go with omnific's suggestions. You certainly could add the redundancy by running dcpromo right now, but make it an additional domain controller for the existing domain rather than adding a new domain.
"When I said I want to make a second domain, I meant as a replacement for the initial SBS domain - to allow redundancy.
Could I use dcpromo on our second server right now, to add this redundancy?"
Adding a second domain will not add any redundancy. To achieve redundancy you need to add a second domain controller to your existing domain, so that if the primary domain controller fails, your domain survives to fight another day. I would go with omnific's suggestions. You certainly could add the redundancy by running dcpromo right now, but make it an additional domain controller for the existing domain rather than adding a new domain.
Agreed you don't want to add another domain. Either add the 2008 DC/GC now and have the SBS limitations but will have redundancy OR remove the sbs DC/GC after 2008 promotion and role transfer and THEN you are left with a 2008 domain/forest and no SBS limitations... as I said.
What I have done in the past is promote a new DC ect. remove the sbs server, then rebuild it to a standard server (NO sbs) and add it as a second DC/GC. If the SBS hardware is good (and it dosn't have to be that good for a DC/GC), re-use it.
What I have done in the past is promote a new DC ect. remove the sbs server, then rebuild it to a standard server (NO sbs) and add it as a second DC/GC. If the SBS hardware is good (and it dosn't have to be that good for a DC/GC), re-use it.
I have just checked and yes, on first appearances the sbs limitations are removed after the fsmo roles are transferred away (I was able to set up a trust). I read, not long ago, that this would not be the case unless the transition pack is used. Guess you shouldn't always believe what you read.
ASKER
So essentially, what you are saying that if I plan the following I will get the redundancy I need:
* Add a 2008 server to the current domain
* Give that 2008 server DC/GC, giving redundancy in the short term
* When the time comes, make it primary DC and remove SBS machine from domain
* Reformat SBS machine as standard server (either 2008 or 2003)
* Re-join ex-SBS machine to domain as redundant DC
* Be very happy
* Add a 2008 server to the current domain
* Give that 2008 server DC/GC, giving redundancy in the short term
* When the time comes, make it primary DC and remove SBS machine from domain
* Reformat SBS machine as standard server (either 2008 or 2003)
* Re-join ex-SBS machine to domain as redundant DC
* Be very happy
You can only run one Small Business Server on a network. You can happily integrate a Windows Server as a Secondary DC.
Are you looking to migrate Small Business Server to Standard/Enterprise ?