Hi Michael,

This upgrade is quite a major change. I would keep the old server untouched and 
perform a DR procedure on the target followed by an upgrade. That would let you 
revert to the old server immediately without having to make any changes on it.

Before doing the DR I would test the new environment using a new install of the 
current version with an empty configuration. That will help to test and prepare 
the new environment thus avoiding  unexpected glitches during more advanced 
stages.
 
You can bring the services down or 'unplug' one server while working with the 
other. The target server can use a dummy name for the blank install and rename 
it later,  after the DR, to get the final name linked to the old server,s 
client id. You will need to create a client using that client id and the final 
name before the DR. Then rename the server from dummy to that name after the 
DR.  

Before a client is created it has to be possible to resolve it (just adding an 
entry on the hosts file on the server). No need to ping or connect to it.


Jee


Michael Leone <Michael.Leone AT PHA.PHILA DOT GOV> wrote:

>I'm looking for a bit of advice, specifically about the order of the 
>steps.  I'm looking to upgrade my NW 7.6.2 server on Win2003 32bit, to NW 
>8 on Win2008 R2 64bit. Oh, and I want to rename it, in the process. :-) 
>And I have 130 clients.
>
>I have the Procedure Generator, so I can figure out the steps for each 
>phase I want to go through, but what phases should I go, in what order?
>
>Current:
>
>NW server name: Old-NW
>NW version: 7.6.2
>OS: Win2003 32bit
>
>End goal:
>
>NW server name: New-NEW
>NW version: 8 (whatever the latest version is)
>OS Win2008 R2 64bit
>
>Should I:
>
>Rename the server in-place now?
>Migrate to new hardware?
>Upgrade the NW version?
>
>Or is there a better order?
>
>(I will have to change the RES file on all clients, once I rename the 
>server. So I may start to do that now, while I plan out the project steps)
>
>Advice/thoughts, anyone?
>
>-- 
>Michael Leone
>Network Administrator, ISM
>Philadelphia Housing Authority
>2500 Jackson St
>Philadelphia, PA 19145
>Tel:  215-684-4180
>Cell: 215-252-0143
><mailto:michael.leone AT pha.phila DOT gov>