Windows Server Essentials 2016 Hardware Migration Where Source Cannot Reboot

Question

Windows Server Essentials 2016 Hardware Migration Where Source Cannot Reboot

Drelkor 21

I have a 2016 Essentials server that, unfortunately, has a bad motherboard. I need to migrate the server over as I am currently unable to apply security updates as when the server reboots, it actually power cycles the power supply and that causes the system to not power up again. If it soft rebooted it would probably be fine but the hard cycle it does on reboot is just fatal to it coming back up. I was, eventually, able to get the server to boot again but it just can’t handle being powered off again as it took around a week of work days trying to boot it repeatedly before we were able to get it to come back up. I attempted to get a replacement motherboard but the cost was more than a replacement server because it was an older machine so I have obtained a somewhat newer (and better) server I would like to migrate the OS and data to. Is it possible to migrate to the destination server if the source server is not capable of being rebooted? I’ve gone through the migration documentation steps a few times and there are several sections where it calls for updates or mentions that the migration tool may restart the server but I just don’t want to risk that it may not come back online. Any assistance that anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

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Answer 1

Anonymous

After install on new server cancel the Configure Windows Server Essentials
Start Server Manager, Local Server
Config static ip address (use DNS of existing essentials)
Rename computer, and join existing domain

After reboot Cancel the Configure Windows Server Essentials again
Start Server Manager, Local Server
Add Roles Active Directory, DNS
Do Post Deployment, promo
Make sure user is EnterpriseAdmin, SchemaAdmin, DomainAdmin groups
Transfer roles over from old server (logged onto old server)
(run cmd.exe with elevated)
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-essentials/migrate/step-2--install-windows-server-essentials-as-a-new-replica-domain-controller#to-transfer-the-operations-master-roles
Config network connection properties DNS point to server's own static address
reboot new server, then this time let the Configure Windows Server Essentials run to completion

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

Drelkor 21 Reputation points

2022-03-23T18:51:21.443+00:00

Thanks for the concise directions! I will give this a try and let you know how it goes.
Anonymous

2022-03-23T19:22:36.693+00:00

Sounds good.
Drelkor 21 Reputation points

2022-03-27T18:19:52.897+00:00

Just wanted to let you know that this worked for me. I was able to do the entire process without rebooting the old 2016 Essentials server all the way until the step where it was demoted to a member server. At that point I had already migrated data and moved my clients so I was ok with it rebooting at that point. Appreciate your assistance in helping to get this done!
Anonymous

2022-03-27T18:34:15.033+00:00

Glad to hear, you're quite welcome.

Answer 2

Anonymous

You can follow along here to migrate to new hardware.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-essentials/migrate/migrate-windows-server-essentials-to-new-hardware

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

Drelkor 21 Reputation points

2022-03-17T13:34:36.667+00:00

I am familiar with this documentation regarding the migration to new hardware but, can this process be fully completed without ever rebooting the source server? Step one refers to installing updates, etc. and that’s the issue with the server now. Any reboot will cause the server to fail to come back up because the motherboard has an issue and even a soft reboot causes the power supply on the server to briefly power off and then power back on. I need to be able to migrate the licensing and domain functions off of the source without ever rebooting the source server. If I can just get that portion migrated, that would even be acceptable as I can always move the disks in the data array since the newer server has the same RAID controller, if I have to.

Answer 3

Anonymous

Well any migration will have a better chance of sucess if the source has been fully patched and domain health is known to be 100%. In your case you can skip those steps and hope for the best.

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

Anonymous

2022-03-18T13:17:56.437+00:00

Just checking if there's any progress or updates?

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
Drelkor 21 Reputation points

2022-03-18T18:35:10.283+00:00

Right now I am trying to locate the Migration Preparation Tool as there is not a /support/tools folder on my Essentials installation ISO for some reason. I’ve searched the ISO for sourcetool.msi but it’s not present. Once I get that installed I was going to try kicking off the migration process.
Anonymous

2022-03-18T18:46:16.477+00:00

I can probably round that up if you want it but I don't think you'll need it since the source is not SBS
Drelkor 21 Reputation points

2022-03-18T20:53:25.45+00:00

Ok, appreciate it greatly. Didn’t realize that step was SBS specific in the migration documentation. To be safe, I ordered additional drives and I’m going to migrate the data from the old server to the new when they arrive Tuesday (versus moving the actual disk array to the new server). The disks should arrive Tuesday and I’ll kick off the migration and let you know how it goes. This is a pretty simple Essentials installation and other than the missing updates, I don’t expect a lot of issues. Will update you as soon as I get it going.
Anonymous

2022-03-18T20:54:33.887+00:00

Sounds good.
Anonymous

2022-03-22T12:23:20.807+00:00

Just checking if there's any progress or updates?

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
Drelkor 21 Reputation points

2022-03-22T13:16:14.783+00:00

Just got the disks in and have the base OS loaded on the new server. Going to attempt the migration today. Will update you when I get it kicked off.
Anonymous

2022-03-22T13:17:37.477+00:00

Sounds good.
Drelkor 21 Reputation points

2022-03-22T20:30:49.73+00:00

Ok, I have installed the 2016 Essentials on the new server but, it is not giving me the option like specified in the documentation to choose the server installation mode and select "Server Migration". This is step 5 under the section "Install Windows Server Essentials on the Destination Server" in the migration documentation. Not sure if this is the result of not running the Migration Preparation Tool first or if I'm just not seeing where to select that option but I've installed it 3 times now and it never gives me the option anywhere that I can find to have it run as a server migration installation of Essentials.
Anonymous

2022-03-22T22:08:28.36+00:00

Maybe better luck with this one.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-essentials/install/install-and-configure-windows-server-essentials-or-windows-server-essentials-experience#to-deploy-windows-server-essentials-in-an-existing-active-directory-environment

basically join existing domain, make it a domain controller, migrate FSMO roles over from old one.
Drelkor 21 Reputation points

2022-03-22T22:33:31.273+00:00

I tried adding the new server into the domain controlled by the Essentials server but it won’t add using the Essentials configuration wizard at startup. Comes back with an error about not being able to add it but, it’s more of a generic error. I’ll go over the documentation link you provided and come up with a game plan to try again tomorrow.
Anonymous

2022-03-22T22:45:40.327+00:00

I'm downloading it here as well to see what I can do.
Anonymous

2022-03-23T15:30:42.497+00:00

Just an update, I'm still working on this but now waiting for some windows updates to complete.

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Windows Server Essentials 2016 Hardware Migration Where Source Cannot Reboot

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