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Create a migration answer file for Windows SBS 2011 Essentials migration

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Published: March 10, 2011

Updated: March 21, 2013

Applies To: Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials

Use Notepad to create the migration answer file. Save the answer file in the root directory of a USB flash drive or other removable media. Values in the answer file pertain to the Destination Server.

Important

The answer file contains logon and password information that can be used to log on to your server. To help protect your server, delete the answer file when you finish migrating to Windows SBS 2011 Essentials.

To create a migration answer file

  1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, and then click Notepad.

  2. Copy the following content and paste it into the file. Do not put any other content in the file.

Note

The following values are for the Destination Server. 

    [WinPE]
    [InitialConfiguration]
    AcceptEula=true
    CompanyName=<CompanyName>
    ServerName=<ServerName>
    PlainTextPassword=<Password>
    Settings=All
    Migration=true

where

  - *\<CompanyName\>* is the friendly name of the company, for example Contoso Ltd.  
      
  - *\<ServerName\>* is the name of the server, for example Contoso-srv. You cannot give the Destination Server the same name as the Source Server.  
      
  - *\<Password\>* is the password for the local administrator, for example Pass@word1

Note

Do not change the other fields.

  1. Click File, click Save, and browse to the root directory of the removable media.

  2. In the File name text box, type cfg.ini; in Save as type, select All Files; and then click Save.

Important

When saving the file, you must choose All Files for the Save as type to ensure that Notepad does not append the file name with a .txt extension.

Copy the migration answer file to removable media

Important

You must complete this step before you start the migration.

Copy the migration answer file to the root partition of a USB flash drive or other removable media (for example, G:\cfg.ini). Then, insert the media into the Destination Server before you start migrating to Windows SBS 2011 Essentials. If the Windows SBS 2011 Essentials installation wizard detects a migration answer file, the migration starts automatically.

Important

When you finish migrating to Windows SBS 2011 Essentials, delete the answer file.

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