Migrating off of SBS 2011 (Exchange not in use)

Question

About to migrate a client off of SBS2011 to server 2019 Std which I’ve done before but not recently. I was trying to raise the domain functional level, but it doesn’t give me the option to do that under sites and services. It just shows it’s at 2008R2 with no option to raise it.

Do I need to mount the Server 2019 ISO and run adprep manually?

Answer 1

If you still with the SBS 2011 then you cannot raise the domain functional above 2008 R2

The two prerequisites to introducing the first 2019 domain controller are that domain functional level needs to be 2008 or higher and older sysvol FRS replication needs to have been migrated to DFSR
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Storage-at-Microsoft/Streamlined-Migration-of-FRS-to-DFSR-SYSVOL/ba-p/425405

I'd use dcdiag / repadmin tools to verify health correcting all errors found before starting any operations. Then stand up the new 2019, patch it fully, license it, join existing domain, add active directory domain services, promote it also making it a GC (recommended), transfer FSMO roles over (optional), transfer pdc emulator role (optional), use dcdiag / repadmin tools to again verify health, when all is good you can decommission / demote old one.

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Answer 2

HI

Since server 2019 standard has removed server essentials experience role, it is by design.
So the steps for migration is similar as the steps for migration from SBS 2011/server 2008r2 to server 2019 std.

we can refer below AD and DHCP migration video to do migration steps.

There are steps (including but not limited to these steps) listed here:
(1)Full system backup for SBS 2011 (System state & Data)
(2)Installing Server 2019 std on new Server and add it to existed SBS domain.
(3)Migrating Folders, folders and shares from SBS2011 to server 2019STD

(4)Migrating DHCP to hardware router or server 2019 std and check if migration successfully.
(5)Raising Forest and Domain Functional Level Windows Server 2008, then migrate FRS to DFSR ,before promote w2019 as replica DC.
(6)Promoting Server 2019 to PDC (Primary Domain Controller)
(7)checking replication between both DC servers.
(8)Transfering all FSMO from SBS2011 to W2019
(9)Removing AD service from SBS2011
(10)Unjoining all Computers Workstations from SBS 2011 and join them to server 2019STD
(11)Removing SBS2011 server from the network.

Active Directory Migration From Windows 2008 R2 to Windows Server 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuzrihbet1E

DHCP migration from Windows Server 2008R2/2012R2 to Windows Server 2016 (Step by step guide)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wdaeY7YmbY

Move Windows SBS 2011 Standard settings and data to the Destination Server for Windows Server Essentials migration
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-essentials/migrate/move-windows-sbs-2011-standard-to-the-destination-server-for-migration

Windows Server 2019 Domain Controller Migration Preparation
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/1d474d06-6753-4d6e-a224-8b487259a08a/windows-server-2019-domain-controller-migration-preparation

Answer 3

Just checking if there's any progress or updates?

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