Internet Information Services
Microsoft web server software.
1,740 questions
How to import Windows Server IIS structure from one server to another server
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BeUnique
2,312
Reputation points
We have recently upgraded windows server from 2008 to 2012.
But, it has failed due to .net compatibility of ASP Application.
We have used Classic ASP, and .NET 2.0 to 3.5 Applications in existing server.
can anyone suggest, how to migrate server without affecting the existing applications...?
I have option as below.
- Instead of migrating existing server, we have planned to create new server with latest OS/SQL and .NET Framework.
The challenge is below.
- How to import IIS settings with all IIS configured application from old existing server to new current server.
1. Here we have plenty of application developed using Classic ASP, .NET framework 2 to 3.5 languages. All apps. need to be used without affecting any flows.- some of the applications folder has mapping with service account for file folder access and how to retain this account when copy from old to new server.
Or give us any other suggestion to import same structure (All Apps and its folder) from old server to new server...
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Lex Li (Microsoft) 6,027 Reputation points Microsoft Employee2023-08-05T00:44:30.6+00:00 Microsoft recommends Web Deploy to be used, https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/iis/publish/using-web-deploy/introduction-to-web-deploy and you might learn it and migrate the sites one by one.
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BeUnique 2,312 Reputation points
2023-08-05T09:19:30.9166667+00:00 Hi @Anonymous
Thanks for your great suggestions.
Is there any other option to import data and apps of IIS from one server to another server..?
or this is only way to do the above steps..?
NOTE : if we are upgrading OS of existing (old) server to new OS, then how to take care of IIS and Apps. section...
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AgaveJoe 1,510 Reputation points2023-08-05T11:05:43.2533333+00:00 Is there any other option to import data and apps of IIS from one server to another server..?
Copy the physical application folders to the new server. Then create an IIS application on the destination server that mirrors the setting and configuration of the source server.
Make sure you install all the server features that your applications require. Simply review the source server if you are not sure.
NOTE : if we are upgrading OS of existing (old) server to new OS, then how to take care of IIS and Apps. section...
Backup the old server. Upgrade. Test the web applications to make sure applications run. If there is a problem, troubleshoot.
Keep in mind, Windows Server 2012 is End of life.
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Lex Li (Microsoft) 6,027 Reputation points Microsoft Employee
2023-08-05T14:37:16.58+00:00 @AgaveJoe Windows Server 2012 still has two months (end of life on Oct 10) and enterprises can purchase extended support.
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TengFeiXie-MSFT 346 Reputation points2023-08-07T07:00:39.53+00:00 Regarding migrating IIS applications, Q&A forum already has accepted solutions. You can refer to this solution: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/540180/iis-migration-step. Web deploy can help you migrate IIS applications and IIS settings.
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BeUnique 2,312 Reputation points
2023-08-07T07:07:29.37+00:00 Hi @AgaveJoe ,
Thanks for your suggestions.
I have some doubts as you mentioned above..?
1.
copy the physical folder from one server to another server is easy.
But, configuring the each apps in IIS new server is tedious process. because, we have more 100 apps (including classic ASP, .NET apps and Web service apps).
Is there any other option to import all the IIS apps from old to new server without affecting their structure...?
Is it possible to take the backup of old server and restore in new server or upgrade in new server..?
Shall we use Web deployment Tool to do this...?
Note : we are going to use Windows Server 2019 version for current use...
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AgaveJoe 1,510 Reputation points
2023-08-07T13:27:01.7333333+00:00 You can try exporting the sites.
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Albert Kallal 5,581 Reputation points2023-08-07T16:35:00.6833333+00:00 When you say "data", do you mean the SQL server database, or some kind of other data?
To move the database(s) in question? Then you do a standard SQL server backup of the database(s) in question. Then you will restore those databases to the new instance of SQL server.
As noted, you can and should be able to copy the existing web folders and web sites to the new server.
While the web config(s) will copy just fine. You may well need to update connection strings in each of those web configs to point to the new instance of SQL server (assuming that's what you mean by move the data to the new server).
However, as noted while the web.configs for each site is fine and can be copied?
The applicaiton config file?
That should be re-created as per suggestions elsewhere in this thread.
So, that can/could be some work, especially for 100 sites.
You could try/risk a copy of the application config, but I think it would be better to re-config IIS on a site by site bases for this.
(and I could ask the question as to why and how they wound up with a 100+ sites? - not a great design approach here). However, as such, these choices are past-tense, and this history can't be changed.
So, I would test one site. Once you get one site working, then the migration process may VERY well go much faster, since setup of each new site should go rather fast, since each new site can continue to use their existing web config files, and you may well not need to change the IIS server application config. This is especially the case if new sites were being created on the one IIS server. That means in most cases, that a new web.config file is not required, and changes to that web.config file would amount to the database connection's strings.
And was a web publish from Visual Studio being used? If yes, then the "release" config files may well all that you require to change before each new publish to the web server. With a 100+ sites, then I have to assume you have 100+ projects and the source code for such projects.
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TengFeiXie-MSFT 346 Reputation points
2023-08-08T09:53:29.81+00:00 Copy the physical folder to another server and reconfigure the bind site. This method can be used when few applications need to be migrated. When there are a large number of sites to migrate, Web deploy is the best choice. Web Deployment Tool can synchronize or migrate the entire Web server, a Web site, or application.
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BeUnique 2,312 Reputation points
2023-08-08T11:03:42.03+00:00 I will try Web Deploy tool and will start for testing.
Thanks for all your good suggestions.
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