Create a migration answer file for Windows SBS 2011 Standard migration
Published: January 28, 2011
Updated: March 17, 2011
Applies To: Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard
A migration answer file serves the following purposes:
- Starts the migration process during the installation of Windows SBS 2011 Standard.
Note
You must use an answer file if you are migrating to Windows SBS 2011 Standard. You can configure an answer file for an attended or an unattended installation.
Provides information that is automatically entered into the Windows SBS 2011 Standard installation pages.
Adds value to professionals’ build servers before taking them to customer sites for final configuration.
Note
You must be onsite to install Windows SBS 2011 Standard in migration mode and to finish the Getting Started tasks.
Important
To fully automate an installation in migration mode on a server that has a preinstalled operating system, you must also use the OOBE.xml answer file for the operating system phase of the installation.
To fully automate an installation in migration mode, you must also use the autounattend.xml answer file. When you use autounattend.xml, you must specify drive C. Windows SBS 2011 Standard can be installed only on drive C. For information about creating an answer file by using the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK), see The Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7.
To create a migration answer file, complete the following steps in order:
Collect the information for the migration answer file.
Run the Answer File Tool.
Copy the migration answer file to removable media.
Collect the information for the migration answer file
The following tables list the information that you need for the answer file.
Clock and time zone settings
| Information to provide | Description |
|---|---|
Clock and time zone settings |
If you choose to manually set the clock and time zone, the migration stops, and you are prompted to set the clock and time zone. If you choose to automatically set the time zone, you must manually set the clock in the server BIOS to the correct time. The system clock cannot be set automatically by using the answer file. |
Company information
| Information to provide | Description |
|---|---|
Company information (optional) |
Name and address of the business. This information is used for settings on your server, and it is not sent to Microsoft. You can edit the company information later in the Windows SBS Console: Click Help, then click Edit Company Information. |
Source Server information
| Information to provide | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Domain administrator account name |
The user account name of a domain administrator in the existing domain.
Note We recommended that you create a new administrator account on the Source Server for migration instead of using the built-in Administrator account.
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Password |
The password that corresponds to the domain administrator account name. Note We recommend that you use a strong password for the domain account.
|
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Source Server name |
The name of the server from which you are migrating settings and data. |
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Source domain name |
The full DNS name of your organization's internal domain—for example, contoso.local. |
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Source Server IP address |
The IP address that is assigned to the Source Server. |
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Default gateway |
The IP address that is assigned to the router on your network. |
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The DHCP Server service is running on the Source Server |
Select this box if the DHCP Server service is running on the Source Server. We recommend that you run the DHCP Server service on the Destination Server. If the DHCP Server service is running on the Source Server, the service will be moved automatically. If the DHCP Server service is running on another server or device, you must manually disable the service. |
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ImportantNote
The domain administrator user name and password that you supply in the answer file are also set as the Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) user name and password. If you need to log on to the server by using DSRM, you must use the same user name and password that you specified during migration. These passwords do not synchronize. Continue to use the old password to log on to the server by using DSRM after you change the administrator account password in Windows SBS 2011 Standard.
Destination Server information
| Information to provide | Description |
|---|---|
Destination Server name |
The name of the server to which you are migrating. You will install Windows SBS 2011 Standard on this server. The Source Server name and the Destination Server name must be different. |
Destination Server IP address |
The IP address that you want to assign to the Destination Server. |
Run the Answer File Tool
Run the Answer File Tool to create the migration answer file.
Note
To run the Answer File Tool, you must have Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 or later installed on the computer that you are using to create the answer file. To download and install Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0, see Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package (x86).
To create the migration answer file
On a client computer or a server, insert Windows SBS 2011 Standard DVD1, and click Create an answer file. The Answer File Tool opens.
Click Migration from existing server (Join existing domain).
Type the information that you previously collected.
Save the answer file as sbsanswerfile.xml.
Copy the migration answer file to removable media
Important
You must complete this step before starting the migration.
Copy the migration answer file to the root partition of a removable storage device, such as a USB flash drive. Then, insert it into a USB port on the Destination Server before you start migrating to Windows SBS 2011 Standard. If the Windows SBS 2011 Standard installation wizard detects a migration answer file, the migration starts automatically.
Important
The answer file contains logon and password information that can be used to log on to your server. To help protect your server, when you finish migrating to Windows SBS 2011 Standard, delete the answer file.
Note
If the Destination Server is a virtual machine, you can create a virtual disk and save the migration answer file there. Then insert the virtual disk into the Destination Server before you start migration mode setup.