Migrate from SBS 2011 to 2008 Standard

migrationwindows-sbs-2011windows-server-2008windows-server-2008-r2

I have a customer who is running a Windows Domain with a Windows Small Business Server 2011.

Now I want to "update" (or downgrade?) to a 2008 R2 Domain.
For two reasons.

  • The customer has nearly reached the SBS user limit
  • The customer now has a XEN-Server for virtualisation and I want to seperate the services (Exchange, WSUS, Active-Directory) to different virtual machines.

Is there a recommended migration path?
Is this even possible?

Best Answer

Well, I would absolutely not attempt to migrate an SBS 2011 to Server 2008, even if it wasn't a Domain Controller. So, don't try that.

But, what your customer wants can be done. Just don't try to do it directly.

Basically, you want to add a second Domain Controller to the domain, and then get rid of the SBS server as a Domain Controller.

(Before following the below instructions, it's a good idea to make sure you have a current backup of the Domain Controller. Always a good idea, just saying it explicitly.)

  1. Check the Forest and Domain Functional Levels. By default, SBS 2011 creates and uses a 2003 Domain and Forest Functional Level. There's no 2011 Functional Level, so you're not actually migrating/downgrading the domain. I'd link how to do this, but I have no freaking idea how to check your Functional Levels on an SBS server.
  2. Get a second server and install a version of Windows that is at least the same as the lowest Functional Level. If you plan on installing Server 2008 R2, you can even skip step 1.
  3. Join it to your domain.
  4. Use DCPromo to make it a Domain Controller, making sure it's a Global Catalog.
  5. Transfer all the FSMO roles to your new Domain Controller.
  6. Sixth, demote your SBS Domain Controller. (Again, I'd link to this or explain how, but I have no freaking clue.)
  7. Done!!

Optional, but additional advisable steps:

  1. Format the disk on the server that had SBS 2011. Install the same version of Windows you just got done installing. Follow steps 1 through 4 above to make it a Domain Controller. Now you have 2 Domain Controllers. You should never have only one Domain Controller, and always have at least 2.
  2. Raise the Functional Level of your domain and forest.
  3. Contact HopelessN00b and offer him a cut of what you get paid for this job. Seriously, he's a good guy to know, and would really appreciate this. :D
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