• Registered: 2009-09-19
  • Posts: 2

Topic: Server Migration w/New Hardware

I will be purchasing a new Dell PowerEdge 2950 and moving from a Dell PowerEdge 2600. When I migrate over I will be applying the acronis image I have to this new server. Before I do this migration I am wondering if there is a way to install the necessary RAID drivers for this new PowerEdge server ahead of the migration so that I don't blue screen after I've applied the image. If I go and apply the driver packs to this installation and integrate the RAID driver using the 3rd Party DriverPacks folder along with the Driver Packs base program will this allow windows to detect the correct RAID drivers for this new poweredge server and avoid those bootup blue screens?

thanks

  • OverFlow
  • DriverPacks Administrator & BASE Developer
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  • From: Cincinnati
  • Registered: 2006-12-02
  • Posts: 6,730

Re: Server Migration w/New Hardware

That is an excellent question...  answer; No.

At least not directly... We have a Team of highly talented individuals that contribute to the DriverPacks.

One such outstanding individual is Galapo who provides a tool called OffLine SysPrep.
http://forum.driverpacks.net/viewtopic.php?id=3312

OffLine SysPrep will update your Source with DriverPack MassStorage flawlessly It also has some other cool features like automatic hal detection ect. IDK if 2k3 is supported for certain but it is definitely your best shot.

You might also look at the Universal Imaging section here at DriverPacks
http://forum.driverpacks.net/viewforum.php?id=30

Welcome to DriverPacks!

Excellent first post

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  • Registered: 2009-09-19
  • Posts: 2

Re: Server Migration w/New Hardware

OverFlow wrote:

That is an excellent question...  answer; No.

At least not directly... We have a Team of highly talented individuals that contribute to the DriverPacks.

One such outstanding individual is Galapo who provides a tool called OffLine SysPrep.
http://forum.driverpacks.net/viewtopic.php?id=3312

OffLine SysPrep will update your Source with DriverPack MassStorage flawlessly It also has some other cool features like automatic hal detection ect. IDK if 2k3 is supported for certain but it is definitely your best shot.

You might also look at the Universal Imaging section here at DriverPacks
http://forum.driverpacks.net/viewforum.php?id=30

Welcome to DriverPacks!

Excellent first post

Thanks for that information.

So besides installing the RAID controller and loading the driver before I move the hardware, there is no other way to inject the drivers I need into this existing installation without syspreping? Can't you manually add drivers so it sees them on startup?

Just to add a few more notes on my situation. This is a domain controller that has all the FSMO rolls. Therefore My plan is to use acronis true image to do the transfer and I have a procedure for this. I'm just worried that doing a sysprep will mess up this process and perhaps cause this DC to get off sync in some way from the other domain controllers in my forest.

thanks

Last edited by 2marshall8 (2009-09-19 14:45:30)

  • OverFlow
  • DriverPacks Administrator & BASE Developer
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  • From: Cincinnati
  • Registered: 2006-12-02
  • Posts: 6,730

Re: Server Migration w/New Hardware

don't sysprep... (not exactly what i said to do)

I said that offline sysprep was probably the BEST WAY to inject drivers. (i still think so)

DON'T run sysprep. that will definately be a mess...

You are not facing as big of a task with the mass storage controller as you will be with the network bindings...
all of your networking functions will depend on having the identical network card(s) which you probably will not...
In which case that is going to be your biggest problem.

Adding mass storage drivers manually is a good amount of work... but it's doable.
Try OffLine sysprep first (you have a backup image wink) it is likely that the HAL will be the same.

OffLine sysprep is not even close to MS SysPrep smile Two completely different animals tongue

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  • Registered: 2007-06-20
  • Posts: 224

Re: Server Migration w/New Hardware

Another option is to use the Acronis Rescue Media with Universal Restore add-on, so long as you purchased and installed the Universal Restore add-on.

Below is a tutorial I found that may help you with doing the restore to the new server.  If you do have the Universal Restore add-on and already created a Rescue Media with the Universal Restore, you could go straight to the section named "III. Restore\Migration to a dissimilar hardware (including virtual machines)".

http://support.sublimesolution.net/arti … ;aid=14864

http://d1syubgj0w3cyv.cloudfront.net/cdn/farfuture/5ocSdUxUxrK5g8rfTm7_39bPWgBMWiteXNH4McROrNw/perpetual:forever/userbar/mainteam-1.png