Replacing Primary Site Server Hardware

Question

I'm considering the need to replace the hardware of my Primary Site Server for standalone Primary Site.

Assuming that the Windows install would survive it (which I can test, as I have spare identical hardware of the old and new boxes) is there any ConfigMgr reason I can't just pull the hard drives and put them in a newer server? Is ConfigMgr in anyway 'aware' of or tied to the specific hardware it's on?

I'm considering the alternative of using HA to transition to a new box, which I've actually done before but the process of changing all source files paths (all my source files are on the PSS) makes that a rather tedious process and had a few other pitfalls last time.

Just shutting the server down and putting the drives in a new server seems like it should be easier, but maybe that's too easy?

Answer 1

@Philip_W

is there any ConfigMgr reason I can't just pull the hard drives and put them in a newer server? Is ConfigMgr in anyway 'aware' of or tied to the specific hardware it's on?

At the ConfigMgr level, there is no problem that prevents you from pulling the hard drives and putting them on a newer server.
Factors that may affect your success in pulling the hard drives and putting them on a newer server may depend on whether the hard disk drive is compatible with the hardware of the replaced server.
You may try to this, if you encounter compatibility issue, then you may use ConfigMgr Site Backup and Restore:
https://home.memftw.com/configmgr-site-backup-restore/

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Answer 2

CM has no tie to the physical hardware but I don't see what you'd gain from replacing hardware with like hardware. You can migrate CM using backup and restore to new hardware just keep the same server name and CM install directory. Or you can use the migration wizard to do a side by side. I wouldn't even think about doing a migration using HA. This requires SQL enterprise and it's difficult. SQL enterprise is super expensive.