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Migrating SBS2003 using the DCPromo method and Virtual Server

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Well, that is sensationalism at it's best!  I am going to be "OOF" next week (Out Of Office) so this blog will sit idle for about 10 days (yeah, like it hasn't done that before).

 

I do have some good stuff coming in January.  I am going to migrate my SBS install at home and plan to document/blog the entire process.  As the title implies, I will be using the Virtual Server/DCPromo method.  It will likely be a series of blogs over a week or so, like Migration Part 1, Migration Part 2, etc.  I have been documenting my process/concerns/gotchas over the last week or so.  I have never had to think this entirely through and there are new things every day that pop up, like:

  1. I am hosting email for a couple of people, gotta let them know it will be down for about 2-3 hours "one day in January"
  2. Shares...forgot to consider custom shares on the server
  3. IMF/RBL/Connection Filtering settings/SMTP Connector settings...will all that stuff need to be recreated or will DS2MB push it from Active Directory to the metabase when I install Exchange?
  4. To install ISA2004 or not to install ISA2004?
  5. WSUS??  Mess with it or simply re-install it on the new install of SBS
  6. I need to re-org my Recipient Policies so that the "other" domains I am hosting do not get my default Recipient Policy settings...do this before the migration of after?
  7. SharePoint data...I have no data but I think I am going to populate it with bogus data and then follow the "How to recover SharePoint data" article just for kicks.
  8. Keep the same servername or go with a new one?
  9. I am hosting my own DNS...how to keep it intact?
  10. I need to get the SBS2003 media with SP1 slipstreamed so I don't have to mess with the Companyweb/SharePoint install issue!
  11. Certificates in ISA2004.  I have several RPC over HTTP users and several Mobile Device users...if I create a new cert with the CEICW then I will have to go "touch" each of these remote users to get the new cert installed.

I already have the answers to most of these and the others I can figure out.  Like a good admin, I am going to test this migration scenario in a test lab prior to doing it on my production server.

 

I "had" Virtual Server installed on my SBS box (BAD!!!!  DON'T DO THIS) with a replica Windows 2000 domain controller.

Here is what I have done so far in anticipation of the migration:

  1. Installed Virtual Server on my Windows XP machine that is part of my SBS domain.
  2. Shut down the replica Domain Controller
  3. Set the Virtual Server service on the SBS box to disabled
  4. Copied the VHD files to my Windows XP machine
  5. Booted up the replica Domain Controller in Virtual Server on the Windows XP box
  6. Installed DNS on my replica domain controller
  7. Uninstalled and reinstalled the Virtual Server "add-on's" on the replica domain controller
  8. Upgraded the replica domain controller to Windows 2003 and then got it fully patched (this is a "best practice" step, if you are planning to transfer FSMO roles between DC's, you want both the source and target at the same operating system/service pack level)
  9. Tested replication, works perfectly
  10. Made all of my DNS zones "Active Directory Integrated" so they would replicate to the other DC.
  11. Got a copy of SBS2003 with SP1 "slipstreamed"

 

So, when I get back from "OOF", I will begin my testing phase in the lab environment (insert -->  at the office).  Once that is complete, I will start the actual migration.

 

Stay tuned....

 

Petergal