Best practice: UCServer/MetaDirectory migration to another Microsoft Windows server
This article explains in a few steps what you have to consider when you move your server.
Server move
Moving the UCServer/MetaDirectory to a new system requires detailed expertise of the server operating system and appropriate permissions!
We recommend a fallback strategy in case the new server does not work as expected and it is necessary to switch to the old server at short notice.
Preparation for the move
- Old server
- Update the productive components of the existing server to the latest versions (within the major version).
- New server
- Reinstalling these latest versions on the new server with default settings.
- Entering the licenses on the new server; in the case of hardware-bound licenses, these must be recoded to the new hardware.
- If local references are used on the old server (e.g. replication of a local CSV file in MetaDirectory), they should be set up on the new server before performing the move.
- If you use a local SQL server as a server database for the UCServer that is also to be migrated, then you must also migrate (export and import) its data according to Microsoft specifications.
- Clients
- Make sure that the clients can find the new server. To do this, prepare any DNS or Group Policy changes.
- Inform users about the short-term failure of the services in question.
Implementation of the move
Exiting the server services
Stop the relevant server services (UCServer and MetaDirectory) on the old and new servers.
Transfer of configuration and data
- Copy the following directories from the old server to the new one as in the following example (depending on the UCServer or MetaDirectory version you are using)
- C:\Program Files (x86)\ESTOS\MetaDirectory\database
- C:\Program Files (x86)\ESTOS\MetaDirectory\config
- C:\Program Files (x86)\ESTOS\UCServer\database
- C:\Program Files (x86)\ESTOS\UCServer\config
- Copy the following directories from the old server to the new one as in the following example (depending on the UCServer or MetaDirectory version you are using)
Example screenshot
Going live
- Switch the prepared DNS or GroupPolicy changes to productive
- Start the relevant server services (UCServer and MetaDirectory) on the new server
- Inform the users how to proceed further (restart, new login or similar)
- Disable the server services on the old server