Moving Data on Windows Small Business Server 2008
Updated: May 27, 2009
Applies To: Windows SBS 2008
Windows® Small Business Server 2008 includes Microsoft® Exchange Server data, Windows SharePoint® Services data, the users' shared data, the users' redirected documents data, and the Windows Updates Repository data. You may want to move data for any of the following reasons:
The server was preinstalled on one partition by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), and you want to move the data to a separate drive.
You want the operating system to be on a separate drive from your data to make backup easier.
You want to move data to a separate partition to optimize the system performance.
The drive where the data folders for Windows SBS 2008 are stored is running out of space.
You want to add a higher performance disk or a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) to your server to use for data storage. In this case, you want to install the disks and then move the data folders to the new disks.
Overview
This document explains how to move data folders in Windows SBS 2008. You can choose to move one or all of the data folders. For example, you can choose to move only the users' shared data and no other data. You do not need to move the data folders in the order that they are presented in this document. For example, you can choose to move Exchange Services data on one day and then the users' shared data on another. However, it is recommended that you always complete and verify a full backup before moving any data.
Consider the following before completing the procedures in this document:
You must be logged on as a member of the domain administrators security group.
If you are moving the data to a new disk or RAID, the disks must be already physically installed on the computer that is running Windows SBS 2008, any drivers required for the disks must be installed, and the relevant partitions and volumes must be created and formatted using NTFS.
If there is not sufficient disk space available, the data move will not continue.
When you are moving data, it is not available to the resource that uses the data. For example, while moving the Exchange Services data, users cannot send or receive e-mail. It is recommended that you move data when users are not connected to the network. However, if you must move data while users are connected to the network, you must tell them to close the appropriate resources.
Moving data folders in Windows SBS 2008 includes the following steps: