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Server Upgrade - 2012 Essentials - Best Method

We are installing a new server in our small office. Currently we have 10 computers and user accounts in our SBS 2003 domain. We just received a new server with 2012 Essentials on it, along with 2 new computers. The other 8 computers will continue to be used.

My question is - what is the best method to install this new server? Should we do a migration or just set up the domain from scratch? It's my understanding the old server must be brought up to date with patches and service packs before a migration, and since that can be a bit time-consuming and subject to other things going wrong, I'm wondering if it wouldn't be faster and cleaner to start from scratch. The existing server has not been kept up to date with patches and service packs.

We have a very basic domain, with just QuickBooks and a couple of other financial programs being run on the server, namely Lacerte & HD Vest. And there's some basic file shares.

Any advice is appreciated.

lruiz52

If you do not want to run the migration preparation tool on the source server to check the health and fix any errors, then you will have to start from scratch, but with only 10 clients should not be that bad. In case you do go the migration route, check the link below for the process.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj200112.aspx

Mark Olivier

ASKER

Thanks 1ruiz52. Which route would you choose?

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lruiz52

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David Logan

Hi we are about to do the same thing. sbs 2003 using exchange and transferring over to 2012 essentials. I was going to start from scratch as our old box is in a bit of a mess.

We have 5 windows 8 pro machines and 3 windows 7 home premium machines. What have you planned for email management, From what I have read 2012R2 doesn't have exchange.