Upgrading to a new server? How to keep same HD?

[Knightsman]

Im still new with servers, and learning as I go. My next thing I want to try to do, is to upgrade an older server to a newer one. (move the hd over)

Old server is a poweredge 2800, and I want to test out with a newer server (havent purchased yet)

Im thinking there has to be a better way to do this, than using something like acronis and reappling the image.

Thanks for any advice

 

[NorCal Internet]

Google "Swing Migration". Perfect for moving a Windows server from one set of hardware to another. You can even move it from one server, to another, and then to another, which would be what you're looking to do, since you want to use the existing hard drive on another server....

So, you'd migrate to a "Temp" server, then move the "Old" harddrive to the "New" server, then migrate from the "Temp" server to the "New" server with the old harddrive...

 

[MobileTechie]

Interesting.

So what is the advantage of Swing over just moving the disk to the new server and hacking the HDC driver or using a universal restore image?

 

[NorCal Internet]

Not sure...I've never done it that way... With the Swing Migration, you wind up with a fresh install of the OS and it's really straight forward.

Another potential benefit is that the AD structure stays intact. The SID's are the same, so any encrypted files are still accessible, and all permissions are retained. I imagine that would be the same with your method, but I'm not sure.

I guess with the fragility of Exchange and Active Directory, I've just always used this method. I've also only used it with SBS, although the process is suited for standalone server as well.

 

[NorCal Internet]

And I guess I should add, that the times when I've done this, it's been to move from an old server to a new server, with all new hardware, so moving the drive wasn't a requirement.

The end result was to have the *SAME* server environment on new(er) hardware....

 

[Knightsman]

Thanks guys, going to be ordering the new server this week, and give it a go!

Nervous and excited.

 

[lan101]

Sounds pretty cool. Let us know how it goes Knightsman. I am interested in this as well to see how well it works.

Thanks,

Landon

 

[Tony_Scarpelli]

I wonder what is so special about this hd that it is worth hours of screw jacking to get it switched around?