Advice on server migration.

mast3r · 14 Feb 2011 at 10:29

Hello All!

I am hoping you will be able to assist me plan a server migration and physical location move.

Current server is a 2003 SBS Box located here In the UK at site A, 200 miles from me, New server is 2008 Standard OR SBS I’m not entirely sure just yet, Likely to be on an ESXi build, this will be located in Guernsey.

I am set to fly over there this coming Sunday to start the installation and migration on Monday morning, as I am writing up my plan of action some things are a little hazy…

Can anyone please add to my list of things to do before my flight over,

1) Domain Details

2) Backup AD to import on other server (if can be done from SBS 2k3 to 2k8 stand)

3) Exchange info
A)Mail Boxes – How do i backup and Export in 2k3 (daft but it’s been so long since I’ve done this on a 2k3 box)

B) How do I make a backup of the Exchange server settings, IE, MX Records etc., Obviously there will be a new IP over in Guernsey so what will I need to be looking out for?

C) Ex-Merge Mailboxes – This will be a tricky one as the old server will still be online as I am over there getting the new server online, I’ll have to get someone to bring me the mailbox data over when the time is right.

4) List of Software to be re-installed, We have a BES Server installed in the UK on an XP Box, I think we will have another XP box mounted on ESXi for the BES Software, which I still need to buy!, I’ve never used this software, any pointers for me? Can I just take the XP Box from the UK over there with me?

5) Backup Exec installation and configuration on new server.

I should know all of this but it has been a while so I wanted to double check!

mast3r · 14 Feb 2011 at 11:14

Three years ago, this sort of migration is all i did, since moving jobs, i dont need to do any such work, now the time has come to get my hands dusty once again, im feeling slightly out of touch, i am sure once i am there ill be absolutely fine but i would like to document my procedures and have my back out plans written up, fail over solutions etc.

This was initially going to take place next month but the client needs it doing sooner, which is why i am here posting this.

I don't need to know HOW to do things, just the tasks of which need to be performed.

Thanks again.

mast3r · 14 Feb 2011 at 11:56

Ahh, that sounds rather contradicting.

I mean, i dont need to know the process of how to do the tasks, i just needed the bullet points of,
Backup AD
Ex-merge mail boxes when the users wont be working
Take note of file shares

Etc.

mast3r · 14 Feb 2011 at 14:19

Thanks for that buddy, If its an ESXi build that is not a problem, ill have that online in a few hours.

It has now been Confirmed and the Server has been ordered and will be delivered in the Morning.

I will have 4 Servers on this box now, a DC, TS, EXCH and a SQL server, then ill have 2 XP builds, for the BES and SONAS systems.

Ill be in Guernsey for 3 days, ill be done in 2 - 2.5 i estimate, the rest of the work will be held once we are up and running, then ill take a second trip with the mail data.

mast3r · 16 Feb 2011 at 00:19

Thanks for that guys,

2003 to 2008 sbs is the plan for DC.

The server is:

Dell PowerEdge R900
4x Six-Core Intel Xeon E7450
96GB RAM
5x 600GB, SAS 6Gbps, 3.5-in, 15K HDD
VMware 4.1, 4 CPU - NOT ESXi

There maybe a Fiber SAN going in if the disks are under too much load.

I have a NAS to set up for backups over LAN so im sure i will have to be going down a fiber route at some point.

mast3r · 16 Feb 2011 at 08:54

I didnt spec this Server...

It is a Racked R900, i suggested a Blade chasis with 4 blades for now but nope...

£20k? its more than £20k for the software alone buddy, VM, Backup Exec, SQL, SBS 2008, Server 2008 R2 Standard, BES etc.

This server web price - £81k, we paid far far less but more than 40k.

This is going to be installed in a new Estate house, for a VERY well known and wealthy individual from the UK, this server is also going to be running a some published apps, the SQL server is going to be used for WSS and some SUN Systems database, nothing heavy.

Thanks to all that tried to help.

mast3r · 16 Feb 2011 at 17:21

overspecced... not at all, there will be some software which i can not name for what ever reason being installed that requires 12 Cores alone.

Cowboy... didn't you know, i work for John Wayne.

mast3r · 4 Mar 2011 at 10:39

Im homeeeee! (have been for a week!)
Well it all went to pot, Why?
here is why...
We have our equipment set up in a room that is not suited for the purpose, small space, above a boiler room and no aircon, With only half of the hardware on the heat was already getting our of hand, the architects had apparently estimated the heat output and had planned for an extractor fan to do this job!
i raised concerns on day one, the site foremen contacted heating consultants and not aircon consultants who said the heat was fine!
I refused to power the server on until there was adequate equipment to keep this cave at a constant 21 Celsius, Two days later we were sorted.

The job itself went like a dream, everything is virtualised on an ESX box not ESXi, performance was fantastic but as to be expected really, there are only 8 users for now.

I had an overlaying worry that i would be encountering serious performance issues since reading some of the above reply's but hey, it was a better sense of achievement when things went so well.

I was on site the estimated 2.5 days but over in Guernsey for 5, what a lovely place Guernsey is!.

I am making a return visit next week with the Ex-merged mailboxes and all user data, i now have to get BES 5.x installed and set up.

I wasn't aware at planning stages but there are a few Macs on site, i am a total numpty when it comes down to Macs, is there something i need to enable on the server for a Mac to join to the domain? i had managed to get the macs to browse to the CIFS shares that was about it

Thanks to all that helped me here. i don't know why i was so bothered as it all came back to me as i did the work.

mast3r · 4 Mar 2011 at 10:45

mast3r · 7 Mar 2011 at 12:22

Thanks all,

This kit you see is only half of the gear on site, the crazy thing is... this is an Estate over in Guernsey, the sort of place one could only dream of, absolutely out of this world... There is only one Family living here, their house keepers, butlers, estate manager, maintenance team and gardeners all live in houses on site too, so this equipment is just to power their entertainment needs.

I took our server out of that comms room until we had the air con sorted.

The Company i work for installed all of this hardware over a 3 year period so im not entirely sure what it all is myself!! :S

I can tell you though:
8 x 8 HDMI Matrix
8X8 - Intelix - DIGI-HDMI
5x Sky+ HD TB Boxes with some fancy switching system to be manged by a Pronto device rather than a remote.
2x DF Solutions Links - Media Streamers - Zone Players
2x 8TB Base Stations / Media Servers
6 Selves of Pronto Serial I/F Converters - Convert cat5 to serial for the Pronto devices throught the estate, (a pronto is a £1500 7" Touch screen tablet used as a remote)
1x Tray of Cat5/6 Extenders
R710 Server - Backup and DC
Two-Way Radio UHF Base Station
3 x AM/FM Tuner - 1U
3 x DAB Tuner
16 x 32 Audio Matrix ADA - Suite 16
4 x Xantech - PA635 Power Amplifier 2 - 2U
10 x Xantech - PA1235 Power Amplifier 1 - 3U
GES & CCTV Video Server
Telephone PBX Panasonic - KX-TDA100
Bunch of POE Switches for Intercoms, Gates, Lighting switches and AP's
3 x ADSL Modems.
Automated Gate system management.
Relay switch system for the grounds lighting, heated pools, sports center, under water TV and Sound and Water features.

mast3r · 7 Mar 2011 at 12:24

What the kit does, in a nut shell, its an over the top home theater system.
Each and every room has TVs and Projectors with 5.1 / 7.2 sound.

The whole estate is managed by these hand held Pronto devices, they control everything and anything, so most of this hardware controls that side of things.

mast3r · 13 Mar 2011 at 09:05