Network administrators might consider migrating from a Small Business Server 2003 environment for number reasons. These include, reaching the SBS 2003 75 user limit, hardware upgrade or migrating to Microsoft online services. Whatever the reason behind the migration, I will say that it can be done and it is relatively straightforward.
However, the project to migrate and decommissioning of SBS needs a lot of thoughts and planning in order to achieve the end goal of a smooth migration and stable/reliable new domain controller. Also, you need to ensure that reliable full server backups are available and that the SBS server has the latest Windows updates and Service Pack installed before starting the implementation phase of the migration. Depending on the size of the network, administrators need to give themselves enough time for migration (couple of days at least). During the migration process, administrators need to continually check and evaluate each step before moving to the next step of the migration.
If the Exchange Server needs to be migrated to another server, extra work needs to be carried out. Please see the following three part article entitled, “Transitioning from Exchange 2000/2003 to Exchange Server 2007”, which describes all the steps that need to be carried out to migrate Exchange 2000/2003 to Exchange server 2007.
http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Transitioning-Exchange-2000-2003-Exchange-Server-2007-Part1.html
http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Transitioning-Exchange-2000-2003-Exchange-Server-2007-Part2.html
http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Transitioning-Exchange-2000-2003-Exchange-Server-2007-Part3.html
Let us now list the steps required for successful migrating and decommissioning of an SBS Server 2003 to Server 2008 std (without Exchange);
- Install Windows Server 2008 R2 and join the domain as member server;
- Run “ForestPrep” and “DomainPrep” on SBS Server (Using 2008 R2 DVD);
- Promote Windows Server 2008 to DC;
- Install DNS role on the 2008 server;
- Make the new Windows Server 2008 a “global catalog” server;
- Transfer the FSMO roles to Windows Server 2008;(see link below):
http://www.petri.co.il/determining_fsmo_role_holders.htm
- Migrate or install DHCP scopes/Role to the new Windows Server 2008;
- Install and replicate WINS (if needed);
- Remove “global catalog” from SBS 2003;
- Demote SBS 2003 to member server;
- Uninstall Exchange Server and other SBS Server components;
- Create a local admin User account on the SBS Server;
- Remove the SBS Server from the domain.
Please note that if Exchange Server needs to be migrated to a new server, start the transitioning phase before starting the decommissioning of SBS phase.
