NAS Server Migration

[dfergusson]

Hi

 

We will shortly be installing new NAS with Windows Server 2012 r2, and will be migration data from old NAS with Windows Server 2003.

We would like to keep same server name as we have some programs that have data paths using the old NAS server name.

 

What would be best practice to carry this out?

 

Many Thanks

Darren

[Norphy]

Well, as far as I can see you have three obvious options:

 

1) Back up the old server using your favourite backup software. Rename the server. Turn it off. Build the new server, give it the same name as your old server, join it to your domain, install the backup client for your favourite backup software and restore the data to the new server. Recreate shares.

 

2) Build your new server, give it a random name and join it to your domain. Use a utility like RoboCopy or RichCopy to copy the data across from the old server to the new. Using these utilities will let you preserve file permissions making your job that little bit easier. When done, rename your old server to something else. Rename your new server to what your old server was called. Recreate shares.

 

3) Rename your old server to something else. Build your new server, give it your old server's old name and join it to your domain. Use a utility like RoboCopy or RichCopy to copy the data across from the old server to the new. Using these utilities will let you preserve file permissions making your job that little bit easier. Recreate shares.

 

I don't think any method is especially better than the other. Method 1 may be a little cleaner. Methods 2 and 3 will probably be quicker. Method 3 may be the better out of 2 and 3 as you won't have to rename your new server.

Edited October 25, 2013 by Norphy