Tutorials

How to migrate SBS 2011 Essentials to Windows Server 2019

How to migrate SBS 2011 Essentials to Windows Server 2019

Support for Small Business Server 2011 Essentials has ended on January 14th, 2020

Support for SBS 2011 has been ended on January 14th, 2020 so we need to migrate to a newer OS like Windows Server 2019. This migration guide will help you do that. Migrating from SBS 2011 Essentials to Windows Server 2019 Standard, Datacenter or Essentials is an easy job if you use our guides. This migration guide includes, very detailed, every step you should make to migrate your server. 

Where is the 'Essentials Experience Role' and is the guide different now?

In Windows Server 2019 Standard, Datacenter or Essentials the Essentials Experience role is no longer available. This means we will have a different approach to the migration (if applicable) of the Redirected Folders and the use of the SBS 2011 Group Policies involved. This is very well explained in chapter 12 and 13. In addition to this, we have developed some Powershell scripts that now uninstall silently the SBS 2011 Essentials ClientAgents from your workstations and laptops without actually touching the desktops. Very cool!

Easy to understand instructions and explanations

This tutorial describes in depth the correct method to migrate an old SBS 2011 to a new Windows Server 2019 Standard, Datacenter or Essentials.  Every step in this tutorial has a screenshot and if any Powershell is involved we have made it easy for you to copy it to your own situation. This tutorial will guide you from the start until everything has been migrated to the new server. Users, security groups, files, folders, shares, and permissions are migrated so there is no loss of data or do you need to recreate profiles or users. And at the end of the procedure, we will show you how you can safely remove the old SBS from your Active Directory. 

A complete migration guide for your SBS 2011 Essentials

In this migration tutorial, we migrate everything, and that includes the Domain Controller, AD, DNS, DHCP, files, folders, users, security groups, shares, and permissions, so there is no loss of data or do you need to recreate profiles or users.

Role or data Is migrated in this tutorial
Active Directory Domain Services
DNS
DHCP
Folders, folders and shares
Redirected folders (made by the SBS console/policies)
Certification Authority
Users
Security and/or permissions
Profiles
Migrate printers

This migration guide does not disrupt daily operations at all, so you do not lose any productivity time in your company. 

Frequently Asked Questions

After you move FSMO roles to the new Windows Server 2019 Standard, Datacenter or Essentials you are no longer compliant with the EULA. Microsoft enforces this by a 21 day countdown. After those 21 days are over your SBS 2011 Essentials will shut itself down, it will be useless for you. You need to demote, unjoin and decommission the server and repurpose the hardware.

No, in this guide the Certification Authority is not migrated to the version included in Windows Server 2019. We do create a backup of the existing CA environment and we create a backup of the EFS Recovery Agent Certificate just in case you find encrypted files. On the new Windows Server 2019 we do not install the CA because most smaller organizations do not have a need for it. If you do need the CA you to install a Windows Server 2012 R2 and migrate the CA from the SBS 2011 to that 2012 R2. After completing this 'hub' you can migrate to 2019.

With this migration tutorial, you don't need anything else! For an overview of all migration tutorials visit Migration guides for Windows Server 2012 or 2016 Essentials.

At the bottom of this migration guide you will find a downloadable Zip file that contains the Powershell scripts to complete this migration. You need to unzip it to c:\scripts on each server. The scripts write output to a date and time stamped text file that can be used for troubleshooting or reporting.

Easy to use migration kit

Migration kit for migrating from one source (for example SBS 2011) to a new Windows Server environment built on the latest technology. This kit is ideal if you want to perform the migration of your old server yourself. The kit contains everything to ultimately run your infrastructure on more modern operating systems like Windows Server 2016/2019, Exchange Server 2016/2019 or Office 365. Success guaranteed!

Technician migration kits

Technician kits are designed for professionals who need to carry out migration projects to Windows Server 2022 or 2025. This migration tutorial is part of the Windows Server 2022 and 2025 Technician migration kits. These utilize a Windows Server 2022 or 2025 Hyper-V host that supports multiple machines for the process. Additionally, the technician migration kits include all the 'Easy migration kits,' which allow us to maintain the same host name for the destination server.

All our Easy Migration Kits and Technician Migration Kits come with exceptional support. In our store, you have the option to include support with your initial purchase or access it as needed by submitting a support ticket here. Prefer a hands-off approach? Our consulting services offer comprehensive migration support—just reach out to us to get started..

About server-essentials.com 

Server-essentials.com was established by Mariette Knap, an alumni Microsoft MVP. It serves as a community for IT Consultants and Business Owners who manage their own IT infrastructure, as well as for Employees who go the extra mile to ensure smooth operations. The forum is dedicated to discussions on all aspects of 'IT' and beyond. The documentation provided is of the highest quality and is crafted by and for the community.


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