Migration from SBS 2003 to 2008 Standard

I work for a company that has SBS 2003 running Exchange and SQL Server on the
one box. I am planning to upgrade to 2008 Standard, SQL Server 2008 and
Exchange 2003 all on seperate boxes. I have the transition packs so that I
can re-use the CALS . Having read up on experiences with this, I am nervous
about upgrading the single server with these as if it goes pear shaped, i may
be stuck big time with no back out plan apart from a restore, not a place I
want to be....

So my plan is to add a new 2008 server to the domain and promote to DC, then
add the other new servers.

Questions I have are:

Are there issues transferring Licensing Server Service from SBS, I have read
that it can be problematic?

Once the 2008 server is promoted does that mean that the Licensing is taken
over by the new DC and the 75 user limit no longer exists?

Can I add the DC only initially and still run exchange and SQL on the
original box so i can do a stepped upgrade?

Thanks

Have you considered going from SBS 2003 to SBS 2008 Premium which would give
you the products you are looking and SBS 2008 Premium includes SQL 2008 AND
a second Windows Server license for a second box...

But if you really want to move away from SBS (big mistake in my book unless
you have 70 users already) consider looking at sbsmigration.com for some
options.

--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Author, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-...7269967&sr=8-1

------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.

"Mr G" <MrG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:207CA996-142D-470A-B08C-D9CD3D20F47C@microsoft.com...
>I work for a company that has SBS 2003 running Exchange and SQL Server on
>the
> one box. I am planning to upgrade to 2008 Standard, SQL Server 2008 and
> Exchange 2003 all on seperate boxes. I have the transition packs so that I
> can re-use the CALS . Having read up on experiences with this, I am
> nervous
> about upgrading the single server with these as if it goes pear shaped, i
> may
> be stuck big time with no back out plan apart from a restore, not a place
> I
> want to be....
>
> So my plan is to add a new 2008 server to the domain and promote to DC,
> then
> add the other new servers.
>
> Questions I have are:
>
> Are there issues transferring Licensing Server Service from SBS, I have
> read
> that it can be problematic?
>
> Once the 2008 server is promoted does that mean that the Licensing is
> taken
> over by the new DC and the 75 user limit no longer exists?
>
> Can I add the DC only initially and still run exchange and SQL on the
> original box so i can do a stepped upgrade?
>
> Thanks

Hi Cris

Thanks for responding.

We are at 75 now and desperate to increase as we are about to expand with
more staff and the server is creaking at the seams..

I have looked at SBSMigration and it seems focused on SBS 2003 rather than
2008 standard. Will this work in the same way with 2008 are there any known
issues?

"Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]" wrote:

> Have you considered going from SBS 2003 to SBS 2008 Premium which would give
> you the products you are looking and SBS 2008 Premium includes SQL 2008 AND
> a second Windows Server license for a second box...
>
> But if you really want to move away from SBS (big mistake in my book unless
> you have 70 users already) consider looking at sbsmigration.com for some
> options.
>
> --
> Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
> Co-Author, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
> http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-...7269967&sr=8-1
>
> ------------------------------------
> MVPs do not work for Microsoft
> Please do not submit questions directly to me.
>
> "Mr G" <MrG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:207CA996-142D-470A-B08C-D9CD3D20F47C@microsoft.com...
> >I work for a company that has SBS 2003 running Exchange and SQL Server on
> >the
> > one box. I am planning to upgrade to 2008 Standard, SQL Server 2008 and
> > Exchange 2003 all on seperate boxes. I have the transition packs so that I
> > can re-use the CALS . Having read up on experiences with this, I am
> > nervous
> > about upgrading the single server with these as if it goes pear shaped, i
> > may
> > be stuck big time with no back out plan apart from a restore, not a place
> > I
> > want to be....
> >
> > So my plan is to add a new 2008 server to the domain and promote to DC,
> > then
> > add the other new servers.
> >
> > Questions I have are:
> >
> > Are there issues transferring Licensing Server Service from SBS, I have
> > read
> > that it can be problematic?
> >
> > Once the 2008 server is promoted does that mean that the Licensing is
> > taken
> > over by the new DC and the 75 user limit no longer exists?
> >
> > Can I add the DC only initially and still run exchange and SQL on the
> > original box so i can do a stepped upgrade?
> >
> > Thanks
>
>

The AD Schema for Windows Server 2008 is somewhat different and requires
that you update the schema of SBS 2003 in order to introduce a 2008 DC

You are correct that sbsmigration is primarily about migrating sbs to new
hardware, but Jeff has many other scenarios covered there as well. I would
encourage you to contact them through their sight, however there may be some
delay as many of the MVPs are currently attending SMBNation in Redmond.

You may also want to consider Windows Essential Business Server Solution
which is a 3 -4 server solution for up to 300 users but has many of the
advantages of SBS http://www.microsoft.com/ebs/en/us/default.aspx


--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Author, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-...7269967&sr=8-1

------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.

"Mr G" <MrG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:7295EAAB-C830-4C65-BB0A-A50D78350B62@microsoft.com...
> Hi Cris
>
> Thanks for responding.
>
> We are at 75 now and desperate to increase as we are about to expand with
> more staff and the server is creaking at the seams..
>
> I have looked at SBSMigration and it seems focused on SBS 2003 rather than
> 2008 standard. Will this work in the same way with 2008 are there any
> known
> issues?
>
> "Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Have you considered going from SBS 2003 to SBS 2008 Premium which would
>> give
>> you the products you are looking and SBS 2008 Premium includes SQL 2008
>> AND
>> a second Windows Server license for a second box...
>>
>> But if you really want to move away from SBS (big mistake in my book
>> unless
>> you have 70 users already) consider looking at sbsmigration.com for some
>> options.
>>
>> --
>> Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
>> Co-Author, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
>> http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-...7269967&sr=8-1
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>> MVPs do not work for Microsoft
>> Please do not submit questions directly to me.
>>
>> "Mr G" <MrG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:207CA996-142D-470A-B08C-D9CD3D20F47C@microsoft.com...
>> >I work for a company that has SBS 2003 running Exchange and SQL Server
>> >on
>> >the
>> > one box. I am planning to upgrade to 2008 Standard, SQL Server 2008 and
>> > Exchange 2003 all on seperate boxes. I have the transition packs so
>> > that I
>> > can re-use the CALS . Having read up on experiences with this, I am
>> > nervous
>> > about upgrading the single server with these as if it goes pear shaped,
>> > i
>> > may
>> > be stuck big time with no back out plan apart from a restore, not a
>> > place
>> > I
>> > want to be....
>> >
>> > So my plan is to add a new 2008 server to the domain and promote to DC,
>> > then
>> > add the other new servers.
>> >
>> > Questions I have are:
>> >
>> > Are there issues transferring Licensing Server Service from SBS, I have
>> > read
>> > that it can be problematic?
>> >
>> > Once the 2008 server is promoted does that mean that the Licensing is
>> > taken
>> > over by the new DC and the 75 user limit no longer exists?
>> >
>> > Can I add the DC only initially and still run exchange and SQL on the
>> > original box so i can do a stepped upgrade?
>> >
>> > Thanks
>>
>>

Best to ask that question over at sbsmigration.com. You should get a
good answer fairly quick. I suspect you have to buy licenses for
everything separate. Have you looked at EBS? It may be more economical
then buying three separate server OS, Exchange and SQL and all the
cals along the way. I am not sure in any way if that is true but you
can run 250 users (I think) on EBS.

On Sat, 4 Oct 2008 10:08:01 -0700, Mr G
<MrG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Hi Cris
>
>Thanks for responding.
>
>We are at 75 now and desperate to increase as we are about to expand with
>more staff and the server is creaking at the seams..
>
>I have looked at SBSMigration and it seems focused on SBS 2003 rather than
>2008 standard. Will this work in the same way with 2008 are there any known
>issues?
>
>"Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Have you considered going from SBS 2003 to SBS 2008 Premium which would give
>> you the products you are looking and SBS 2008 Premium includes SQL 2008 AND
>> a second Windows Server license for a second box...
>>
>> But if you really want to move away from SBS (big mistake in my book unless
>> you have 70 users already) consider looking at sbsmigration.com for some
>> options.
>>
>> --
>> Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
>> Co-Author, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
>> http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-...7269967&sr=8-1
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>> MVPs do not work for Microsoft
>> Please do not submit questions directly to me.
>>
>> "Mr G" <MrG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:207CA996-142D-470A-B08C-D9CD3D20F47C@microsoft.com...
>> >I work for a company that has SBS 2003 running Exchange and SQL Server on
>> >the
>> > one box. I am planning to upgrade to 2008 Standard, SQL Server 2008 and
>> > Exchange 2003 all on seperate boxes. I have the transition packs so that I
>> > can re-use the CALS . Having read up on experiences with this, I am
>> > nervous
>> > about upgrading the single server with these as if it goes pear shaped, i
>> > may
>> > be stuck big time with no back out plan apart from a restore, not a place
>> > I
>> > want to be....
>> >
>> > So my plan is to add a new 2008 server to the domain and promote to DC,
>> > then
>> > add the other new servers.
>> >
>> > Questions I have are:
>> >
>> > Are there issues transferring Licensing Server Service from SBS, I have
>> > read
>> > that it can be problematic?
>> >
>> > Once the 2008 server is promoted does that mean that the Licensing is
>> > taken
>> > over by the new DC and the 75 user limit no longer exists?
>> >
>> > Can I add the DC only initially and still run exchange and SQL on the
>> > original box so i can do a stepped upgrade?
>> >
>> > Thanks
>>
>>
See what SBS support is working on
http://blogs.technet.com/sbs/default.aspx
Check your SBS with the SBS Best Practices Analyzer
http://blogs.technet.com/sbs/archive...A/default.aspx

Mr G wrote:
> I work for a company that has SBS 2003 running Exchange and SQL
> Server on the one box. I am planning to upgrade to 2008 Standard, SQL
> Server 2008 and Exchange 2003 all on seperate boxes. I have the
> transition packs so that I can re-use the CALS . Having read up on
> experiences with this, I am nervous about upgrading the single server
> with these as if it goes pear shaped, i may be stuck big time with no
> back out plan apart from a restore, not a place I want to be....
>
> So my plan is to add a new 2008 server to the domain and promote to
> DC, then add the other new servers.
>
> Questions I have are:
>
> Are there issues transferring Licensing Server Service from SBS, I
> have read that it can be problematic?
>
> Once the 2008 server is promoted does that mean that the Licensing is
> taken over by the new DC and the 75 user limit no longer exists?
>
> Can I add the DC only initially and still run exchange and SQL on the
> original box so i can do a stepped upgrade?
>
> Thanks

Transitioned SBS CALs do not cover access to Server 2008 products. Non
transisioned SBS CALs cover Server 2008 access until May of 2009.

You will need to purchase CALs for 2008 if you use the transision pack for
(which does cover the Windows, Exchange, and SQL Server products).

Suggest contacting your License Reseller or MS Licensing for confirmation
and additoinal information.

--
/kj