SBS Transition to Full 2003 Server 3

[Squawkt22]

We are about to be performing an upgrade on an existing SBS2000 server. The ultiamte goal is to move to a new Full Fledge Windows 2003 Server with Exchange 2003.

We have 40 CALs associated with the SBS install so we need to Upgrade them and Transition them so we can retain them. My questions is involved with the Server licensing for the new server. Since we are basically decomissioning the old server for a new server, do we need to still buy Server 2003 and Exchange 2003 for the new server or is there anyway to move the full fledged version to the new hardware?

TIA

 

[porterno]

From a licensing perspective, the SBS 2K3 Transition Pack that you will use to upgrade the current SBS server will provide your licensing for the W2K3 server operating system. You would then need to purchase the license for Exchange 2K3 beyond that.

 

[dkediger]

Actually, I think the Transition Pack converts all the SBS product licences to equivalent full versions, not just the Server, so Exchange would be covered. If you have the Premium version, then SQL Server and ISA server would be covered as well.

I've never done a Transition pack upsizing, but since the SBS media is very SBS specific, I would imagine MS gives you new license keys that work on the full products. You would then need to acquire a media set through a provider or MS.

 

[twwabw]

Transition pack will do the following as far as licensing:
- allow your server to become stand alone 2003 server. It can now take on all normal 2003 server roles.
- convert your SBS Exchange server license to full Exch license.
- if you have SBS premium edition, converts SQL to full version
- your SBS Cals will be converted to same number of Server cals; and Exchange client Cals.

This transition pack doesn't perform any physical installs of products onto new equipment- it just free up the SBS licensing restrictions. You'll need to do fresh installs if you plan on migrating roles or apps to new machines.

 

[Squawkt22]

So in order for me to move this to a new server, I would need to buy a new Server 2003 license and media kit, and an Exchange 2003 server license and media kit?

All this even though I am going to decomission the old server? Theres on way to retain the exchange server install or the server install?

 

[dkediger]

If you are moving from SBS to Windows Standard server, you could buy new retail, yes.

You can also buy the previously mentioned Transition packs that protect some of your monetary investment in SBS. As noted the Transition pack is only a paper license/license key. You would need to acquire, for about $10 or so, plus shipping, the installation CD's to use with the Transition pack license keys.

You can see the pricing here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/sbs/howtobuy/pricing.mspx

Only you can determine the economics of the Transition pack versus obtaining retail product.

There is no product that un-SBS' SBS. There are several methods to transfer AD and Exchange when converting, Microsoft has several KB's available.

You are aware that SBS '03 has an increased user limit of 75 as well, if that was a concern? Depending on the growth dynamics of your company, an upgrade from SBS '00 to SBS '03 might prove sufficient.

 

[technome]

Thanks guy for the fill-in, learning something everyday.


........................................
Chernobyl disaster..a must see pictorial

http://www.kiddofspeed.com/default.htm

 

[Squawkt22]

I'm still fairly confused on this. Let me see if I can break this down and understand it.

As far as just upgrading the existing old server. When do I apply the Upgrades for the CALs from 2000 to 2003? I know I then apply the upgrade for SBS 2000 to SBS 2003, after which I will have a SBS Premium 2003 with hopefully 40 upgraded CALs. After that, when do I apply the transition pack for the CALS? I would then apply the Transition pack for SBS 2003 which should leave me a fully functional Windows Server 2003 and Exchange 2003 with 5 CALS each. I would also convert the remaining 35 depending upon when I apply those transition packs which should leave me with 40 CALs for Server 2003 and Exchange 2003.

Couple questions up to this point. Obviously when to apply the Upgrades and Transitions for the 35 CALs not included with each server. Also do those 40 Exchange CALs include an Outlook 2003 license?

At this point, we would like to move to a new server which we have already purchased. We didn't purchase an OS though. From what I am gathering, I would need to purchase another Windows Server 2003 kit, which should include 5 CALs with the software and the media to install. I would also need to purchase Exchange 2003, which include 5 CAls, since we don't have the specific media, or can we get the media since we already have the license from the SBS Transition?

I guess I am mainly confused on the transfering of the server installations/licenses. With the media we have, Windows 2003 SBS upgrade and 2003 Transition Pack, we are unable to install a full version of Windows 2003 and Exchange 2003 on the new server. It seems like with the media I have, I would have to install SBS 2003 on the new server and then apply the Transition pack to get it to the point we want.

Granted we find the appropriate approach to setting up the new server with the correct licenses and media, I would then need to join it to the domain and dcpromo it. I would then setup Exchagne 2003 on the new server. At this point I would need to move mailboxes to the new server and then replicate the AD information to the new server. Finally I would transfer roles and the new server would be the main server. I would then decomission the old server.

Sorry for the long rant, I just want to make sure I have all the angles covered as this is quite the complex upgrade.

Any help is appreciated. TIA

 

[dkediger]

To cut through the confusion, what you're looking at is moving from an SBS 2000 server/network to a non-SBS 2003 server/network? Correct?

Is the need to go to non-SBS Server/Exchange 2003 due to the 50 user limit of 2000 SBS or some other reason - such as joining to another Windows AD forest?

Just trying to pin down and focus the possibilities here.

 

[Squawkt22]

Strictly because of the user limit. We have about 65 or so accounts with that certainly growing past the 75 user limit of SBS 2003.

 

[dkediger]

OK - Then I probably wouldn't worry about involving an upgrade to SBS '03 and just get the retail new full version products. According to Microsoft's pricing links, I'll show you 2 scenarios:

Both result in a 60 Cal network:

Retail Full Version products:
Windows Server 2003 = $1,000
60 Cals (20 pack *3)= $2,400
Exchange Serevr 2003 = $700
60 Exchange Cals($65)= $3,900
Total Retail Full Version = $8,000

SBS Upgrade/Transition Pack Route:
SBS '00 to '03 Upgrade = $600
40 SBS '00 - '03 Upgrade Cals = $1,500
SBS '03 Transition Pack = $1,770
40 SBS '03 TP Cals = $1,600
20 Server '03 Retail Cals = $800
20 Exchange '03 Retail Cals = $1,300
Total Upgd/TP Route = $7,570

So for about 5% more going the new full retail route you get a brand new license trail.

As far as the physical upgrade, in general, you can initially join the new server as a member server in your SBS AD forest, let AD replicate to the new server,copy files over as you want them, then disconnect from the network and promote the new server. That's just a rough outline, there are a lot of steps in between. With Exchange involved, there are several ways to "move" the information store, none of which are very straightforward. You might want to locate a local Microsoft partner experienced in Exchange migrations.

 

[Squawkt22]

The reason we want to do the upgrade is to make sure everythign is replicated more smoothly. We thought about just installing fresh, but there seemed like to many things could go wrong if we tried just moving AD and Exchange. The upgrade seemed to work better because we could get the server where we want, i.e. Windows Server 2003 & Exchange 2003, then just replicate AD over to the new server, then just move mailboxes through AD.

We also already purchased the Upgrade components so we are kind of stuck to that approach. So since we have are going to upgrade, do we need to just purchase a Windows Server 2003 and Exchange Server 2003?

 

[dkediger]

Yeah, at that point you're working in the 2nd scenario using the upgrade/transition pack route.

I would go ahead and get the SBS '00 to '03 upgrade done, then contact Microsoft or a major reseller like CDW about the Transition Pack license conversions and obtaining media sets for the full versions of Server and Exchange. This will all be done through Microsoft Open License, in which all your money goes to buying the license and you spend $10 - $20 on the CD media kit.

 

[Squawkt22]

Hopefully this is my last post on this issue , but the Transition Pack media set I have states that it contains the full version of Windows Server 2003. It says I need replacement media for Exchange 2003, which is fine.

However I have no idea how to install Server 2003 fresh on another server using the Transition Pack media. I am unable to boot from the CD provided. I tried using a Volume License Server 2003 CD, and entering the Product ID on the Transition Pack case, however it said that Product ID was invalid.

Any ideas?

 

[dkediger]

OK - I'll have to back up a bit and say that the Transition Pack does physically un-SBS an SBS server. Had to make a phone call to actually track that down.

So you'll need to run the Transition Pack media on the SBS server and it will physically remove the SBS restrictions making it a Standard server with Exchange.

The catch would now be to get everything installed on the new server. I'm trying to confirm, haven't heard back yet, but basically it appears you'll use the SBS '03 upgrade media you have to build the new server as an SBS server. Just do a very basic install of the SBS components, install all your SBS licenses, and then run the Transition Pack on that one as well. Do all of this with the new serevr not connected to the network with the other former SBS serevr. Note that you will need the NIC in the server connected to a hub/switch so that the SBS wizards recognize the card.

 

[Squawkt22]

Looks like the installing 2003 SBS then applying the Transition Pack is gonna be the way to go. Currently testing my situation now.

One more thing however. I've been told that an Exchange license allows you to install Outlook 2003. I know for sure it applies to open licenses, but how about the 40 SBS licenses we are upgrading and transitioning to be 40 Exchange 2003 licenses? I would assume those would also be included in that?

Thanks again for all the help!

 

[dkediger]

Yep - You will be fully licensed for Outlook 2003.