re-installing Windows 2003 SBS
David-UK
Hi,
Our problem is Windows 2003 SBS (Standard) started not doing security
updates after SP2. Also C drive was getting low. Some of the admin
functions are not working either. What we want is to re-install the SBS.
We have only 2 users. What is the best way to do it? We can put another
hard drive and install everything on that drive on the same server (Dell
PowerEdge 700 with 1GB Ram since 2004). I cannot figure out how to
transfer Exchange to the new installation. We have an external USB Hard
drive as well to use.
I hope I explained properly. Please let me know if any more questions.
Thank you very much.
David
--
David-UK
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Chucko
from scratch. As far as the users email goes, export it individually to a
.pst file and then leave it there as an archive for them to access or if
they really need it online just import it once the system is rebuilt.
"David-UK" <David-U...@DoNotSpam.com> wrote in message
news:David-U...@DoNotSpam.com...
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP] (since 1997)
Co-Contributor, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1
Owner, CPU Services, Belleville, IL
A Microsoft Registered Partner
------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.
"David-UK" <David-U...@DoNotSpam.com> wrote in message news:David-U...@DoNotSpam.com...
David-UK
Hi Cris,
Thanks for reply. I will add more RAM as you advised. Sorry I forgot to
mentionen that We had partitioned the hard drive. C and E. C drive was
12 GB as Microsoft recommended and that's the one run out of space. We
had moved Exchange database into E drive. C drive had 3GB free space at
the moment and E drive 20GB. Our users don't take much space.
Main problem is we cannot update security patches etc and some
functions are not working. Could you put us into right direction what do
we need to consider before reinstalling please? I will not create a
partition this time. Only 1 main drive (73GB SCSI 10000 rpm)and maybe
another SATA drive.
Thanks.
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
2003. Otherwise the install will fail. As soon as the install is complete, you should apply the update from 832880, and then
you can roll the date forward and install SBS2003 SP1.
--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP] (since 1997)
Co-Contributor, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1
Owner, CPU Services, Belleville, IL
A Microsoft Registered Partner
------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.
"David-UK" <David-U...@DoNotSpam.com> wrote in message news:David-U...@DoNotSpam.com...
Merv Porter
Dell advises not to run SATA and SCSI in PE 700 server at the same time.
Would be better to add an additional SCSI drive or two larger SCSI drives.
PE 700 Manual
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/pe700/en/it/r0809c70.htm#1037554
--------------------------------------------------
"Up to four 1-inch SATA or SCSI hard drives".
NOTE: Installing SATA and SCSI hard drives in the same system is not
supported
---------------------------------------------------
I've got one of these PE700s at home and one at a client. They run well
with SBS 2003 Standard and SCSI (with a minimum of 1.5 GB of RAM, depending
on what 3rd party apps are installed). My client is running software Raid1
with two SCSI drives and it works well. They also have small 10 GB
partition also and I have to fight to keep enough free space on the C:
drive.
You're users will lose their desktop profiles since, from SBS's perspective,
you will be creating a new domain when you do the fresh install. Make sure
you know a 'local administrator' username and password on each workstation
before you reinstall the server. Otherwise, you won't be able to join the
workstations to the new domain.
Do a FULL backup using the SBS Backup Wizard prior to starting the reinstall
and document the current partitions sizes and the current Windows 2003
service pack level that is installed on the current server (in case you need
to retreat).
Thinking out loud here....
(I'm assuming you have the original SBS 2003 RTM CDs)
+ Install more RAM
+ Do FULL Backup of current server
+ Make sure you have all the original SBS disks and install keys (for SBS,
Outlook, etc.).
+ Know a local administrator username/password on each workstation and try
these out before proceeding
+ Back up or document any important desktop information for the profiles on
the workstations (Favorites, background pictures, shortcuts, etc.)
+ If using Folder Redirection for the users, redirect it back to their
desktops
+ Stop all Exchange services and set them to "manual" so that no more mail
is received on the current SBS server.
+ Log onto workstation(s) as each use, open Outlook and export ALL Exchange
data folders to a .pst for each user. Save to a USB drive.
+ Copy all 3rd party application databases/data to a USB drive
+ Copy all user folders to a USB drive
+ Document access permissions for all shared folders
+ Copy data in all shared folders to a USB drive
+ Document all Security and Distribution groups (other than the default
groups)
+ Prior to the new install, download the following to a USB drive:
--------------------------------------------
Windows 2003 SP2
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=95AC1610-C232-4644-B828-C55EEC605D55&displaylang=en
Exchange 2003 SP2
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=535BEF85-3096-45F8-AA43-60F1F58B3C40&displaylang=en
Sharepoint 2003 SP3
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=AB086D48-1148-48DE-B4EC-A6298367E5F0&displaylang=en
Windows XP SP2 for Client Deployment
http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/5/3/c539c4f8-ea9b-4c47-a975-73c724ab1a71/SBS2003-KB891193-X86-ENU.EXE
SBS 2003 SP1
http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/5/0/0503C927-F573-43A1-A184-97D755345F59/SBS2003-KB885918-SP1-X86-ENU.EXE
----------------------------------------------------
+ Install SBS 2003 from your CDs.
+ Stop after CD1 and create your partitions.
+ Then finish the installation of the SBS 2003 Components by clicking on
Continue Setup on the desktop.
+ Do not do any MS security or service pack updates
+ Run a scan with the SBS 2003 BPA to get a baseline on the health of your
installation
-----------------------------------------
SBS 2003 Best Practices Analyzer
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=3874527A-DE19-49BB-800F-352F3B6F2922&displaylang=en
-----------------------------------------
+ If there are no glaring errors or problems, proceed to upgrade to SBS
2003 SP1 using the following (multi-web page) document. Make sure the BIOS
has been upgraded on the server to handle Windows 2003 SP1/SP2. (In the
document, substitute Windows 2003 SP2 for SP1, Exchange 2003 SP2 for SP1,
Sharepoint Services 2003 SP3 for SP1)
------------------------------------------
How to install Service Pack 1 for SBS 2003
http://www.smallbizserver.net/Default.aspx?tabid=266&articleType=ArticleView&articleId=68&PageID=555
------------------------------------------
+ Run a scan with the 2003 BPA again and fix any errors
+ Go to Windows Update, do a custom search and install the latest security
updates
+ Run a scan with the 2003 BPA again and fix any errors
+ Configure a FULL backup using the SBS 2003 Backup Wizard
+ Set up workstation (computer) accounts on the server
+ Set up user accounts on the server
+ Recreate Security and Distribution Groups (and their membership)
+ Run CEICW to configure SBS services, firewall and email
+ Configure password complexity
+ Set up Monitoring and Reporting
+ Do a FULL backup of your new (baseline) installation using the SBS Backup
Wizard before proceeding.
+ Join workstations to your new domain
+ Configure users
+ Open Outlook for each user and import the .pst you previously created
+ Copy Favorites to each user's profile on the workstations
+ Reinstall 3rd party apps/databases/data on the server
+ Reinstall an antivirus software on the server and recreate an exceptions
to folder/file scanning
+ Reinstall AV software on each workstation
+ Configure/test access to third party apps on server from the workstations
for each user
+ Configure Folder Redirection for users if desired
+ Do FULL daily backups of the server
I'm sure I've forgotten some things.
--
Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
============================
"David-UK" <David-U...@DoNotSpam.com> wrote in message
news:David-U...@DoNotSpam.com...
>
David-UK
Hi again Cris.
I will copy all the user Documents and Settings folder from the server
to an external hard drive. After the reinstall and creating the users
again, I will copy the user files from external hard drive to server
(user's documents and settings folders). Are they the only data you
mentioned to be copied to an external HD?
I will do a full backup into our external Dell R1000 backup unit with
Yosamite program (NTbackup is not working for some reason). Just in
case.
Do you recommend us to create partitions (ie C and D drive) or just a C
drive?
I will check the date before reinstall.
I will upgrade to 2GB RAM. (processor is Pentium 4 3.2 Mhz). It is not
under heavy load. Just emails and some user files.
I can export Outlook emails as a PST file. Clients are allowed to use
as offline. I will have a look how to import into Exchange afterwards.
Or learn how to use Exmerge.
I might get another internal SATA drive to do a clean install and keep
the original if things go wrong :)
I have written down all the current settings of the server and
connections etc.
I hope I have covered all.
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
SuperGumby [SBS MVP]
just a head nodding in Cris' direction. The LoungeAN here ran SBS03 Standard
(actually, originally Premium, then R2 Standard) in 2GB RAM on a Dell PE1600
I inherited from a client. This worked well for a good period of time. Some
time ago though I added 2GB ram (to give total 4GB) because even at 2GB the
system was not performing well.
IMHO it was the action of hotfixes/updates and additional facilities (got
WSUS on there?) that required the additional RAM.
1GB was never sufficient for SBS03, and with the current cost of RAM I would
kick it straight to 4GB.
"Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]" <crisnos...@cpunospamservices.net> wrote in
message news:ejV8Jleg...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
David-UK
Hi Merv,
Thank you very much for your detailed reply. I do appreciate the time
you had spent. It is very eye opening.
Sorry for my late reply as I was away.
1 client is only using Outlook, MS Word & Excel and printing on the
networked printer. They are all installed locally.
Second client does the same plus Sage accounting program.
3rd clients account only for emails.
I understand I need to install all the programs on the client's
machines again after SBS reinstall.
Server itself does not have extra applications apart from antivirus
program. Main duty is holding clients (3) my document files and
Exchange. Exchange retrieves emails from 3rd part web hosting company.
It's a very basic system. Clients only access remotely via OWA.
Yes, I have all the CDs & DVDs.
I will go through you list after the New Year and understand what am I
doing first.
I think I will keep the current SCSI drive as it is (just in case) but
install 2 SATA drives. 1 for OS and 2nd for the data. I am really fed up
fighting for more room on C drive. I would like to do RAID 1 but no idea
how to do it. May I ask what software your client is using?
How are you coping with the fan noise at home? :)
@SuperGumby: Thanks for the advice. It might be an idea to go min 3GB
RAM then.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year :)
Merv Porter
RAID1... most people would say to get a RAID1 card and install it. This is
referred to as 'hardware' RAID and may be the best approach. RAID1 is a
"mirroring" (exact duplication) process. Each drive in the server is
"mirrored" to another drive. The takeaway here is disk redundancy (niote:
RAID is not a backup process). Without a mirror, if a disk fails, you have
to order a new drive for the failed one, install the new drive and then use
a backup to restore data to that new drive. If a drive is mirrored and that
drive fails, the server keeps going until the failed drive is replaced.
Once replaced with a fresh drive, the mirror recreates itself and life goes
on. All drives in the mirror are "basic" disks as far as the OS is
concerned. There are other forms of RAID (such as RAID5) but these require
more expensive raid hardware adapters.
If you want to install RAID1, either hardware or software, with the two SATA
drives (OS and DATA), you will need 2 additional drives for a total of 4
drives in the server. If you're on a budget and understand the
ramifications of using "dynamic" disks (vs basic disks), software RAID1 is
an option. The 'mirroring software' is part of Windows 2003.
Software RAID on Windows 2003 - Part1
http://www.netadmintools.com/art439.html
Is software RAID slower than hardware RAID... yes
Do dynamic disks have their issues... yes
Can it work with SBS 2003 and less than 10 users and light traffic... yes.
I've been running a software RAID1 setup at two clients for almost 5 years
with very few problems. They each have SCSI disks in a Dell PE 700 and a PE
800. (My Document redirection to the server is also done). The clients
both make extensive use of Remote Web Workplace/OWA. They do Full server
backups nightly to two alternating external USB drives using the SBS Backup
Wizard. Standard SATA (7200 rpm) drives will almost certainly be slower
than SCSI, but this may not be noticeable for 'a few users'. Software RAID
will add a little overhead too. You may also find that combining the OS and
Data onto a single drive and then using a second drive for RAID mirroring
produces little noticeable affect to the end user but enhances the
reliability of your server setup.
Of course, the key to any successful server setup is FULL backups of all
data, with the backups taken offsite daily.
--
Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
============================
"David-UK" <David-U...@DoNotSpam.com> wrote in message
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