Migrating roles and features in Windows Server
Applies to: Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012
This page contains links to information and tools that help guide you through the process of migrating roles and features to a newer version of Windows Server. You can migrate file servers and storage using Storage Migration Service, while many other roles and features can be migrated by using the Windows Server Migration Tools, a set of PowerShell cmdlets that were introduced in Windows Server 2008 R2 for migrating roles and features.
The migration guides support migrations of specified roles and features from one server to another (not in-place upgrades). Unless otherwise noted in the guides, migrations are supported between physical and virtual computers, and between full installation options of Windows Server and servers that are running the Server Core installation option.
Before you begin
Before you begin migrating roles and features, verify that both source and destination servers are running the most current service packs that are available for their operating systems.
Whenever you migrate or upgrade to any version of Windows Server, you should review and understand the support lifecycle policy and timeframe for that version and plan accordingly. You can search for the lifecycle information for the particular Windows Server release that you are interested in.
Windows Server 2019
To migrate file servers and storage to Windows Server 2019 or Windows Server 2016, we recommend using Storage Migration Service. To migrate other roles, refer to the guidance for Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2012 R2.
Windows Server 2016
Here are the migration guides for Windows Server 2016. Note that in many cases you can also use the Windows Server 2012 R2 migration guides.
To migrate file servers to Windows Server 2019 or Windows Server 2016, we recommend using Storage Migration Service.
Windows Server 2012 R2
Follow the steps in these guides to migrate roles and features from servers that are running Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, or Windows Server 2012 R2 to Windows Server 2012 R2. Windows Server Migration Tools in Windows Server 2012 R2 supports cross-subnet migrations.
An e-book of Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2012 migration guides is now available. For more information, and to download the e-book, see the E-Book Gallery for Microsoft Technologies.
Windows Server 2012
Follow the steps in these guides to migrate roles and features from servers that are running Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2012 to Windows Server 2012. Windows Server Migration Tools in Windows Server 2012 supports cross-subnet migrations.
Windows Server 2008 R2
Follow the steps in these guides to migrate roles and features from servers that are running Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2008 R2 to Windows Server 2008 R2. Windows Server Migration Tools in Windows Server 2008 R2 does not support cross-subnet migrations.
Migrate Print and Document Services to Windows Server 2012
Applies To: Windows Server 2012
Overview
This article provides guidance to migrate a print server running WindowsВ ServerВ® 2003, WindowsВ Server 2003 R2, Windows ServerВ 2008, or Windows ServerВ 2008В R2 operating systems to a server running the Windows Server 2012 operating system with the Print and Document Services role installed. This includes cross-architecture and stand-alone migrations, as well as configurations for a server in a cluster. This document provides step-by-step instructions for migrating from old hardware to new hardware and consolidating print servers.
Print and Document Services enables print server tools and configures the server to act as a print server. Print and Document Services is not dependent on any other features or roles. However, some specific network configurations, clients, and hardware may require you to install additional features or enable certain services.
This guide provides you with instructions for migrating an existing print server to a server that is running Windows Server 2012. This guide does not contain instructions for migration when the source server is running multiple roles. If your server is running multiple roles, we recommend that you design a custom migration procedure specific to your server environment, based on the information provided in other role migration guides. Migration guides for additional roles are available in the Windows Server TechCenter.
If your source server is running multiple roles, some migration steps in this guide, such as those for computer name and IP configuration, can cause other roles that are running on the source server to fail.
To manage the migration process, use one of the following:
The Printer Migration Wizard, which you access through Print Management, a snap-in in Microsoft Management Console (MMC).
The Printbrm.exe command-line tool.
You can perform the migration locally or remotely, and from either a client computer or server.
As a best practice, run the Printer Migration Wizard or Printbrm.exe from a computer running Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8 to ensure that you are using the newest version of the migration tools that have the latest updates and features. You can run these tools either locally on the server or remotely from any other computer running Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8. Remember that if you are running printbrm over the network to remote servers, the Print$ share must exist on both the source and target servers and the Remote Registry Service must be running.
For more information about installing and using these tools, see Access the migration tools.
The Print Management snap-in is not available in Windows Server 2003. However, it is available in Windows Vista Enterprise and Windows Vista Ultimate, which enables you to migrate from Windows Server 2003. It is also available in Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012. For more information about migrating from Windows Server 2003, see Preparing to Migrate. The Print Management snap-in and the Printbrm.exe command-line tool are not available for the Server Core installation option. To migrate from a print server running on a Server Core installation, use a server running the Printer Migration Wizard, Windows Vista Enterprise, or Windows Vista Ultimate. For more information about migrating from a server running a Server Core installation, see Preparing to Migrate. There is no equivalent to Print and Document Services for WindowsВ® client operating systems.
You can migrate Print and Document Services from the destination server or from any client with the following:
The Printer Migration Wizard (provided that the client is running one of the supported operating systems listed in the Supported operating systems matrix).
Remote access to the destination server.
Access to the printer settings file created when you back up the source server.
All commands in this guide are case-insensitive unless specifically noted.
About this guide
This guide is designed as a step-by-step tutorial for migrating print servers.
Target audience
This document is intended for IT administrators and other knowledge workers who are responsible for the operation and deployment of print servers in a managed environment.
What this guide does not provide
This document does not provide guidance for the following:
Upgrading roles on the same computer
Migrating printer configurations during client installations of Windows
Migrating settings for a server that is not being used as a print server
Recovering server information that was not properly saved prior to migration for in-place upgrades
Instructions for migrating more than Print and Document Services
Supported migration scenarios
You must have access to the Printer Migration Wizard to migrate print servers. For more information about supported scenarios and limitations, see Preparing to Migrate.
Supported operating systems
The following table outlines the supported operating systems for migration covered in this guide.
Source server processor
Source server operating system
Destination server operating system
Destination server processor
Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2012, including full, MinShell, and Server Core installation options
Windows Server 2003 R2
Windows Server 2012, including full, MinShell, and Server Core installation options
Windows ServerВ 2008, both full and Server Core installation options
Windows Server 2012, including full, MinShell, and Server Core installation options
Windows ServerВ 2008В R2
Windows Server 2012, including full, MinShell, and Server Core installation options
Server Core installation option of Windows ServerВ 2008В R2
Windows Server 2012, including full, MinShell, and Server Core installation options
Windows Server 2012
Windows Server 2012, including full, MinShell, and Server Core installation options
Server Core and MinShell installation options of Windows Server 2012
Windows Server 2012, including full, MinShell, and Server Core installation options
The versions of operating systems shown in the preceding table are the oldest combinations of operating systems and service packs that are supported. Newer service packs, if available, are supported.
The Foundation, Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter editions of Windows Server are supported on full, Server Core, and MinShell installation options, as either source or destination servers.
All versions of Windows Server 2012 are x64-based. Migrating to an x86-based server is not supported.
Migrations between physical operating systems and virtual operating systems are supported.
Both x86-based and x64-based migrations are supported for Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008. All editions of Windows Server 2012 are x64-based.
You might prefer the migration process, rather than an upgrade, even when the hardware is native x64-based. An example would be a case where there is increased use of the server and there is a server role split (in which the source server has more than one server role)—and you decide to separate the roles onto several additional x64-based servers. In this case, migration of individual server roles to other servers might be the best solution.
The server administrator can choose which parts of an existing installation to migrate, but along with the server role, this usually includes configuration, data, system identity, and operating system settings.
Migration from a source server to a destination server that is running an operating system in a different system UI language (that is, the installed language) than the source server is not supported. For example, you cannot use Windows Server Migration Tools to migrate roles, operating system settings, data, or shares from a computer that is running Windows ServerВ 2008 in the French language to a computer that is running Windows Server 2012 in the German language.
The system UI language is the language of the localized installation package that was used to set up the Windows operating system.
Cross-architecture migration (such as migrating from an x86-based server to an x64-based server) is supported. The source server must have print queue drivers installed for both the source and destination server architectures. If a print queue does not have a driver for the destination server architecture, then it will not be migrated. Similarly, verify that the destination server contains drivers for each supported architecture.
Supported role configurations
The Supported operating systems matrix provides a complete listing of the supported migration scenarios.
Some migration scenarios require additional preparation. For more information about these scenarios, see Appendix B — Additional Destination Server Scenarios.
Supported role services and features
The Printer Migration Wizard migrates:
Shared printer settings.
Printer drivers in use by the print spooler.
Any security settings specific to the installed printer.
Migrating from x86-based to x64-based v3 printer drivers
There are several things you must consider when managing migrations using v3 print drivers. The first is that a print queue cannot function without the native printer driver for the server architecture (x86 or x64) on which it exists. Since Windows Server 2012 is a 64-bit only operating system, it is important that you have 64-bit drivers installed for all of your printers if you are migrating from a 32-bit system. The most difficult transition is from 32-bit to 64-bit servers in an organization with 32-bit clients since it is common to have third-party 32-bit printer drivers that do not have 64-bit equivalents. During the print configuration restoration for cross-platform scenarios, if the backup file does not contain driver binaries for the platform of the target server, the drivers will be installed from the target server’s driver store, if available.
As a best practice, when migrating from x86-based to x64-based v3 drivers:
Verify that x64-based versions of the drivers are available.
If you are unable to verify their availability, back up the source server before the migration.
Install the x64-based drivers on the source server so that you can determine if there any problems or conflicts before the migration process.
If there are conflicts or problems on the destination server after the migration, roll back the migration. For more information, see “Roll back migration on the source server” in Post-Migration Tasks1.
Unsupported scenarios
The Printer Migration Wizard does not migrate the following:
Other services or settings that specific printers may rely on, such as Line Printer Remote (LPR), Internet Printer Protocol (IPP), or Web Services on Devices (WSD). You must enable or install these features before restoring the source print server configuration. For additional information, see “Roll back migration on the source server” in Post-Migration Tasks1.
Local bus printers (LPT and USB), although they are shown during backup. For additional information, see Appendix B — Additional Destination Server Scenarios.
Plug and play printers. However, plug and play printer drivers will be migrated. For additional information, see Appendix B — Additional Destination Server Scenarios.
Any print jobs currently in the printer queue.
Any system or print administrators, or permissions. If you want to retain the same system or print administrators on the destination server as on the source server, you will need to manually add these administrators to the destination server.
Print and Document Services migration overview
While the original server is still running, use the Printer Migration Wizard or the Printbrm.exe command-line tool to export or back up the print information (such as settings, queues, and drivers) in a printer settings file. Then, import or restore this backup image to a destination server running Windows Server 2012 that has been configured to run as a print server.
Some migration scenarios require additional preparation. For more information about these scenarios, see Appendix B — Additional Destination Server Scenarios.
To migrate printers from a server running Windows ServerВ 2003 or a Server Core installation to a server running Windows ServerВ 2008В R2, you must use a computer running the Printer Migration Wizard to remotely manage the server running Windows ServerВ 2003 or a Server Core installation. Using this computer, you can store the printer settings file (containing information about the printers you want to migrate, such as settings, queues, and drivers) from the server running Windows ServerВ 2003 or a Server Core installation to a file share. You can then use the Printer Migration Wizard to migrate the printers from the file share to the server running Windows ServerВ 2008В R2.
For more information about accessing the Printer Migration Wizard, see Preparing to Migrate.
The Printing-Server Core role must be installed on a server running a Server Core installation from which you want to migrate.
Migrate print servers (overview)
The following list provides an overview of the steps to migrating the print servers.