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Selecting a Migration Method

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 with SP1

Before migrating your Web sites and applications to IIS 6.0, you need to determine whether to perform the migration manually or with the IIS 6.0 Migration Tool. It is recommended that you use the migration tool to begin the migration process, except when one of the following is true:

  • You have set up programs, installation scripts, or provisioning scripts for the Web sites and applications that you are migrating. When the Web sites and applications that you are migrating have setup programs, installation scripts, or provisioning scripts, use those programs or scripts to install the Web sites and applications on the target server. Ensure that the setup programs, installation scripts, and provisioning scripts have been properly modified to install the Web sites and applications on IIS 6.0.

  • The target server is configured to run in IIS 5.0 isolation mode. When the Web sites and applications that you are migrating require the target server to run in IIS 5.0 isolation mode, you must perform the migration manually. To determine whether your Web sites and applications are compatible with worker process isolation mode, see Determining Application Compatibility with Worker Process Isolation Mode earlier in this section.

  • The source server has a significant number of FrontPage extended Web sites. When the FrontPage extended Web sites make extensive use of the administrative and publishing security-related settings found in FrontPage 2000 Server Extensions, perform the migration manually. To ensure that these security-related settings are migrated properly to the target server, perform the migration manually and use FrontPage publishing to transfer the Web site to the target server.

  • You want to migrate individual virtual directories. When you want to migrate individual virtual directories, perform the migration manually. The IIS 6.0 Migration Tool only moves Web site content and configuration settings at the Web site level, which means that all of the virtual directories beneath the Web site are migrated to the target server.

If you determine that you need to perform the migration manually, then you can proceed to the next step in the migration process — Deploying the Target Server. Otherwise, you need to know which steps in the migration process are automated by the IIS 6.0 Migration Tool, and which steps you must complete manually after running the migration Tool. Knowing the role of the IIS 6.0 Migration Tool in the migration process enables you to have the appropriate tools and resources available when you are ready to begin the migration.