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Applies To: Windows Server 2016 Essentials, Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials, Windows Server 2012 Essentials
This guide describes how to migrate an existing Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard domain to Windows Server速 2012 Essentials on new hardware, and then to migrate the settings and data. This guide also describes how to remove your existing server from the Windows Server Essentials network after you finish the migration.
Note
Mar 28, 2012 - As you are probably aware Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2011 Essentials is very similar to WHS 2011 in some respects but do you. I am researching the purchase of a new server for a small business data server. I have been told to look at Windows Server 2012.
To avoid problems during migration, the Windows Server Essentials product development team strongly recommends that you read this document before you begin the migration.
Note
To migrate your server data to the latest version of Windows Server Essentials, see Migrate to Windows Server Essentials.
To migrate your server data to the latest version of Windows Server Essentials, see Migrate to Windows Server Essentials.
Additional resources
For links to additional information, tools, and community resources to help guide you through the migration process, see Windows Small Business Server Migration.
Terms and definitions
Source Server: The existing server from which you are migrating your settings and data.
Destination Server: The new server to which you are migrating your settings and data.
Migration process summary
This Migration Guide includes the following steps:
- Prepare your Source Server for Windows Server Essentials migration. You must ensure that your Source Server and network are ready for migration. This section guides you through backing up the Source Server, evaluating the Source Server system health, installing the most recent service packs and fixes, and verifying the network configuration.
- Install Windows Server Essentials in migration mode. This section describes the steps you should take to install Windows Server Essentials on the Destination Server in migration mode.
- Join computers to the new Windows Server Essentials server. This section covers joining client computers to the new Windows Server Essentials network and updating Group Policy settings.
- Move SBS 2011 settings and data to the Destination Server. This section provides information about migrating data and settings from the Source Server.
- Enable folder redirection on the Windows Server Essentials Destination Server. If folder redirection is enabled on the Source Server, you can enable folder redirection on the Destination Server, and then delete the old Folder Redirection Group Policy setting.
- Demote and remove the Source Server from the new Windows Server Essentials network. Prior to removing the Source Server from the network, you must force a Group Policy update and demote the Source Server.
- Perform post-migration tasks for Windows Server Essentials migration. After you finish migrating all settings and data to Windows Server Essentials, you may want to map permitted computers to user accounts.
- Run the Windows Server Essentials Best Practices Analyzer. After you finish migrating settings and data to Windows Server Essentials, you should run the Windows Server Essentials BPA.
- Prepare your Source Server for Windows Server Essentials migration. You must ensure that your Source Server and network are ready for migration. This section guides you through backing up the Source Server, evaluating the Source Server system health, installing the most recent service packs and fixes, and verifying the network configuration.
- Install Windows Server Essentials in migration mode. This section describes the steps you should take to install Windows Server Essentials on the Destination Server in migration mode.
- Join computers to the new Windows Server Essentials server. This section covers joining client computers to the new Windows Server Essentials network and updating Group Policy settings.
- Move SBS 2011 settings and data to the Destination Server. This section provides information about migrating data and settings from the Source Server.
- Enable folder redirection on the Windows Server Essentials Destination Server. If folder redirection is enabled on the Source Server, you can enable folder redirection on the Destination Server, and then delete the old Folder Redirection Group Policy setting.
- Demote and remove the Source Server from the new Windows Server Essentials network. Prior to removing the Source Server from the network, you must force a Group Policy update and demote the Source Server.
- Perform post-migration tasks for Windows Server Essentials migration. After you finish migrating all settings and data to Windows Server Essentials, you may want to map permitted computers to user accounts.
- Run the Windows Server Essentials Best Practices Analyzer. After you finish migrating settings and data to Windows Server Essentials, you should run the Windows Server Essentials BPA.
Several of the migration procedures require that you open a command prompt window as an administrator.
To open a command prompt window on the Source Server as an administrator
- Click Start.
- In the search box, type cmd.
- In the list of results, right-click cmd, and then click Run as administrator.
![Server Server](/uploads/1/2/5/8/125838130/277086012.jpg)
To open a command prompt window on the Destination Server as an administrator
- On the Start screen, in the search box, type cmd.
- In the list of results, right-click cmd, and then click Run as administrator.
Microsoft has announced the final names and pricing for its upcoming Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2011 editions. The three products will be available through all current Microsoft server licensing channels.
Codename Aurora will be known as Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials. Priced at $545, it is slated for release in the first half of 2011. Windows SBS 2011 Essentials is targeted at small businesses that want to deploy their first server. It protects your data, lets you organize and access business information from virtually anywhere, supports business applications, and connects to online services such as Office 365, hosted e-mail, collaboration, and CRM. It can be used by up to 25 users and requires no CALs for user access.
Codename SBS 7 will be known as Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard. Priced at $1,096, with CALs going for approximately $72, it is slated for release in December 2010 (available through OEMs and System Builders in February 2011). It is aimed at small businesses with up to 75 users that want enterprise-class server technology, automatic daily server backups, and features like e-mail, Internet connectivity, internal websites, remote access, as well as file and printer sharing. Licensing is consistent with previous versions of Windows SBS 2008 Standard, which required a Server License and CALs for each user.
Finally, there will be a server add-on known as Windows Small Business Server 2011 Premium Add-on. Priced at $1,604, with client-access licenses going for approximately $92, it too is slated for release in December 2010 from Microsoft and February 2011 from OEMs and System Builders. The add-on consists of an additional server that provides support for SQL Server-based LOB applications and access to Window Server 2008 R2 technologies. It includes Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard as well as SQL Server 2008 R2 for Small Business, and can be added to both previously mentioned SBS 2011 products. Access to the Windows Server components for the add-on will be covered by the Windows SBS 2011 CAL model, but SQL Server access will require Premium Add-on CALs. Microsoft said it decided to move to an add-on model to give its customers 'more flexibility and deployment options providing the ability to purchase additional servers either up front or as needed.'
Microsoft has two more Windows Server products on the way. We've known about codename Vail, the second version of Windows Home Server, for a while now, but there's another one: Windows Server codename Breckenridge, according to a Microsoft Connect page titled 'Windows Server Solutions Log Collector Privacy Statement' (via ZDNet). Breckenridge will reportedly be a derivative of Windows Home Server Vail optimized to function as a storage server. The release details about these two have yet to be finalized.
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