Moving a Windows Server Installation to a VM

N

NikolaiL

Bit poster
I am planning to migrate a Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 installation (residing on a bootcamp-Partition) to a Parallels Desktop VM on another, more modern and faster Mac.

1. Is Parallels Transporter Agent the right tool to use?

2. What do I need to take into account in order to make the transition as smooth as possible - notably for the Windows clients that connect to the Windows server?

3. Are problems with the Windows Server licenses to be expected? Will I have to contact Microsoft support? The current installation will of course be retired (once everything is working with the new VM installation)

4. Anything else to consider?

Many thanks in advance for any help
NikolaiL
 
Hi NikolaiL,

1. Yes, Parallels Transporter Agent should be used.
2. We always recommend to check disk and system files before migration. Best practices are described in this article: http://kb.parallels.com/en/119172
3. License is expected to be lost. You will need to make sure that VM is up and running and then contact Microsoft to reactivate it.
4. Nothing comes to my mind. Transporter Agent should make everything for you =)
 
Hi Marat,

thank you very much for you help. Your solution sounds quite reasonable to me.
However as a Pro Edition user, I had at the same time contacted the Parallels Support Team directly as well and received a somewhat contradictory (and much less elaborate) answer (the quote below is their complete answer sans "hello" and "goodbye"):
"[...]
For using boot camp Windows, Parallels Transporter Tool is not required.
Please refer to the link below to know the steps to import your Windows Bootcamp.
http://kb.parallels.com/en/113658
[...]"

This leaves me now confused as to what is the right path to choose - although your way seems to fit more what I would have expected.

Sorry for bothering you again but I simply cannot afford to end up stuck with an incomplete migration (and perhaps with licensing issues).
Since you already confirmed I likely will have to contact Microsoft, to your knowledge are there any formulas or incantations I will have to recite to them in order to get my server license working again after the migration?

Thank you very much again for your time and help
NikolaiL
 
Hi NikolaiL,

If Server is installed in the Mac Boot Camp partition (another partition on the Mac with Windows installation), then Transporter is not really required. If it's installed on another PC, then you should use Transporter.

In regards to license reactivation, there is a way to activate using a phone call which is absolutely automated. During that procedure they will ask you to confirm that only one installation is in use. If you don't want to activate it via a phone call, then nothing extraordinary should be recited. Just explain them a situation =)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top