RM CC3 to Vanilla Advice

[cpjitservices]

We just done it last summer. Took around a week to setup all servers side, with DCs and GPOs, DHCP, DNS and so on. We have now 2 DCs and 2 file servers (that hold all docs etc), 1 sims server and WSUS+WDS server.

WDS is just such a big time safer in comparison to RM Build (we ditched that even before and used FOG). All was done from scratch, new domain and that transferred dns and dhcp roles and imported users through CSV files.

From old system I missed centralized console to create bulk users, assign software, printers etc. But those things can be done through other tools. Biggest pain were printers.

The print management on 2008 does not offer option for making printer default, GPPs were not reliable (the printers not always appeared) in the end we started using logon scripts and all is good.

I have to admit this was the best network move second to virtualization I have done here. Logon times are much faster, system can be customized to ours needs and we can use modern OS. And it is much cheaper to run. We saved 5k a year in support contracts and if we would like to move to CC4 it would cost us around £20k.

 

One advice, set up correct permission on home folders from the beginning, we had a bit of struggle with that.

Only what we left behind is smart cache, it is cheap to run and does what we need - no sense in reinventing wheel. It is just a linux with squid on it.

 

Thats true but don't you have to pay for the smartcahce ?? if you do then just build a server with CentOS squid and Dansguardian.... It's exactly the same

[enjay]

Setting up a whole new domain is certainly cleaner, and as others have said, RM components have a habit of hanging around and/or making unexpected changes. Also, RM does a lot of config through RM Workstation Delivery and RM AppAgent so you'd need to create those settings anyway. Also, as cpjitservices says, it allows you to run both networks side-by-side for transition purposes, allowing the network to remain live throughout if you so desire.

 

What I will say is this - go into the AD on your CC3 server and have a good look at how RM have set it up, especially if you're not that clued up on AD, GPOs, etc. No harm, to be honest, in backing up all the RM GPOs in case you wish to restore them into your new network. Kind of wish I did that here before migration.

[paulellam]

I thought i read somewhere that SIMS and FMS was not compatible with 2008 R2 x64 (I could be wrong though).... As for Terminal Server on 2003, I dont mind if I were to use 2003 or 2008.

 

We just got a 2008 R2 x64 SIMS Server with FMS and all honkey dorey!!