Server Upgrade Data migration

[mirojr]

Hello,

 

In the not too distant future i am going to upgrade our server from 2003 to 2008 R2

 

I have been asking about and have also decided to get a second DC as a backup.

 

I am also going to use this temporarily to promote to primary DC whilst i change the upgrade on the OS on the current PDC.

 

Now i am wondering waht people do about data migration, all the apps and shared drives and home drives.

 

Do i basically copy all this over into same structure on the temp machine wjilst i take down the server (which has single partition by the way)?

 

Could i do this by using NT backup's restore function to get all the structure... cause i do know that copying files is a pain if one fails halfway through and you end up wondering which copied and which didint.

 

Just wondered how other people manage their data

 

Thanks.

[timzim]

I thought PDCs were done away with since W2003? They're all equal now so you don't need to promote or demote DCs, just add another to your domain then get on with your upgrading.

[richardp]

yes as far as I know this is the case since 2003 server, no pdc bdc just dc. It is still best practice I think to designate one of your DCs as your primary server for changing domain wide settings such as user accounts and group policy etc...

 

Richard

[K.C.Leblanc]

It still exists in a fashion.

 

How to view and transfer FSMO roles in Windows Server 2003

 

Although it's not a day to day consideration you should know where it is.

 

Now, who's PC shall I install Windows ME on.

Edited February 23, 2010 by K.C.Leblanc

[mirojr]

Ok am confused now. ha.

 

So i dont need to swap roles etc?

 

But also i am wondering about moving the data about, what do you do as a rule

[mirojr]

I posted that too slow.

 

I thought I had to change roles.

 

But primarily i am wondering about data transfer

[K.C.Leblanc]

Are you planning to perform an OS upgrade on your current server or wipe it and start again?

 

If you're wiping it (after making anothwer machine a DC), you should be fine as long as you demote the server to a member server because you nuke it. The roles will be moved to another DC automaticaly.

 

If you're performing an upgrade I'm not 100% sure, but I expect you'll be fine.

[mirojr]

Cannot upgrade as current os is 2k3 32bit and looking to move up to 2008 R2.

 

But moving the data about......?

[timzim]

Robocopy

[7andY]

Agreed - RoboCopy...

[K.C.Leblanc]

Agreed - RoboCopy...

 

Yep, robocopy is excellent.

[danrhodes]

RoboCopy its the futurte, a data moving revelation. Tried to turn that into a Peter Kay moment but failed!?!?

 

But yes it is an excellent program!

 

D

[plexer]

Also look at richcopy.

 

Ben