Upgrading a SIMS.net Server from Server 2000 to 2003

[PrimaryTech]

Hi All,

My school currently has 2x 2k3 DC's and a 2k member server that hosts the SIMS.net and FMS databases. I've been told by my LA that I need to upgrade the SIMS machine to Server 2k3. I've done upgrade installs before on Server 2k member servers but never with an SQL database.

Is there anything extra I should be doing before the upgrade? I'm assuming I'll have to stop the MSQL services and make sure no-one is connected to SIMS or FMS.(I'll be taking a full disk image of the server and SIMS.net backups, plus copying all data to a backup server.)

Thanks in advance

[GREED]

Are you intent on upgrading in line? An easier, and cleaner solution would be a clean install of the new OS, clean install of SIMS/FMS and then copy the databases back.

[PrimaryTech]

I do want to do it inline, Ideally I'd do a clean build but currently we don't have the time to do that so I'm looking at the 'pop-in-the-CD-and-click-upgrade' option

[GREED]

You 'should' be ok I cannot forsee any issues, but obviously take a back up. You might need to sort SQL and then restore the databases (only) anyway.

[chazzy2501]

I don't know if it's even possible but anyway don't upgrade to 2003r2 64bit! SIMS wont work...

[PrimaryTech]

Thanks for the support guys, spoke nicely to our SLT and they agreed a fresh install would be best so I'm doing some server juggling and I should have a server to start afresh with Server 2008 (not R2 though )

[GREED]

Good luck with that PrimaryTech, hope all goes well and let us know if you get stuck with anything!

[PrimaryTech]

Cheers for the help guys,
Managed to get a fresh install of Server 2008 installed and migrated the SIMS.net system, including migrating from SQL 2005 to 2008. And it only took one day, inbetween taking classes

[GREED]

Always good to hear it all went well!