Maintain Fewer Servers
Technical Resources
The resources on this page guide business Professionals in planning, implementing, and supporting consolidation of Windows servers and applications. Links to best practice papers for consolidating Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL Server™, Microsoft Active Directory® and Microsoft Internet Information Server can be found here. Some content may link to other Web pages within the Microsoft domain.
On This Page
Solution Acclerators for Server Migration and Consolidation
The planning and prescriptive guidance delivered by these Solution Accelerator adds value in many ways, including:
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outlining the planning structure and overall process
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presenting technical design considerations and best practice
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managing project risks
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providing consistency and repeatability
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reducing infrastructure costs, and easing implementation efforts
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Solution Accelerator for Domain Server Consolidation and Migration: Windows NT 4.0 to Windows Server 2003
Solution Accelerator for Consolidating and Migrating File and Print Servers from Windows NT 4.0
Solution Accelerator for Consolidating and Migrating LOB Applications
Training
These training courses are primary for IT professionals responsible for planning and implementing the server consolidation processes.
White Papers
Data Centre Advisory Council (DCAC) Server Consolidation Best Practices
This white paper provides a business case for server consolidation, outlines a cost justification model, shows the steps in the server consolidation process, and discusses technical enablers and potential problems.
SQL Server Consolidation on a 64-Bit Platform
Lessons learned during test scenarios in which Microsoft deployed and operated a 64-bit server to consolidate Microsoft SQL Server (instances that previously resided on separate physical computers).
SQL Server Consolidation on a 32-Bit Platform Using a Clustered Enviroment
Lessons learned during test scenarios in which Microsoft consolidated Microsoft SQL Server databases that previously resided on separate physical servers on to a single 32-bit clustered Windows environment.
Background Articles
Enterprise Storage: Achieving High Availability and Scalability with NTFS
The latest versions of the Windows NT File System (NTFS), as included in Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003, are the most robust and scalable file systems Microsoft has released to date. Companies are achieving higher availability of Windows-attached data through a number of core file system improvements.
Microsoft Clustering Technologies Overview
When consolidating, obtaining higher system availability is one critical factor to increasing uptime. To learn more visit the Microsoft Clustering Technologies Overview. For advanced configuration of Microsoft Clustering Servers visit the following sites:
Product Scenarios
Consolidate Exchange 5.5 using Exchange 2000
Consolidation is a process that has received increasing interest in recent years as faster and more powerful hardware comes onto the market. Exchange 2000 scales higher than Exchange 5.5, supporting more mailboxes on a single server-and also supports storage and directory partitioning.
Domain Migration and Consolidation
Active Directory is a great way to consolidate existing NT 4.0 domains, reducing the total number of servers to manage. Window 2000 Server enables you to consolidate and grow your data center at the pace your business requires.
How to Consolidate
Consolidating Windows NT 4.0 Resource Domains
This chapter from the Domain Migration Cookbook walks you through the steps necessary for the consolidation of Microsoft Windows NT® 4.0 resource domains into organizational units (OU) in a native mode Microsoft Windows 2000 domain.
Upgrading Databases from SQL Server 6.5 and 7.0 to SQL Server 2000
See how proper planning can make upgrades to SQL Server 2000 from SQL Server 6.5 and SQL Server 7.0 run smoothly. Review this article for the information you will need to prepare for and understand the upgrade process.
TechNet Resources
TechNet Migration Guides
Whether you are considering migration to the Windows Server System, actually planning your migration, or deep in the throes of implementation, TechNet offers a number of resources to help you.
Solution Accelerator for migrating and consolidation LOB applications
This Solution Accelerator provides guidance for consolidating and migrating LOB applications to Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based solutions, including onto Virtual Server 2005-based virtual machines. It provides technical information and recommendations, processes, build notes, job aids, test scripts, and documented test validation of the processes.
