HOW TO: Prepare for a UNIX-to-Windows Migration (324215)

SUMMARY

This article describes the basic preparations that are required to migrate existing Web sites that are hosted on the UNIX platform to Windows and Internet Information Services (IIS). This step-by-step article is one of a series of articles that provide detailed information about how to complete a UNIX-to-Windows Migration.

The articles in this series include the following: back to the top

Determine Hardware Requirements for a UNIX-to-Windows Migration

Before you consider the software and content issues of a migration from UNIX to Windows, you must first consider the hardware and physical environment that you will be using to support your Web site or sites. There are a variety of hardware platforms that support UNIX, and because of differences in the way UNIX/Apache and Windows/IIS work, you must make careful decisions about the exact configuration of your new server. For more information about how to make these decisions and translate UNIX requirements to Windows requirements, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: back to the top

Determine Site Requirements for a UNIX-to-Windows Migration

Although Apache and IIS work in very different ways, they provide the same basic facilities. Apache uses different terms and different methods to accomplish some of these goals, and it is important to understand the differences between Apache features and the corresponding features in IIS. You must also consider the needs of your Web sites. Programming languages such as Perl, Python, PHP and Java are common under UNIX, and you must determine if these languages must be installed on your Windows computer.

Finally, think about your site's security requirements. Although centrally-controlled security is used on many sites, some sites may require folder-level and even user-configured security and authentication parameters. For more information about how to determine your existing needs and how to translate these needs into IIS settings and terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: back to the top

Plan for a Large Site UNIX-to-Windows Migration

Large Web sites that provide information and support across a number of different departments or to a large number of users require a different approach to the migration process. Load-balancing techniques, file sharing and redirection systems will all work differently, and probably with a variety of software under UNIX. With Windows/IIS, you can handle these features in a coherent way, sharing configurations and exchanging messages between hosts. For more information about how to migrate large-site installations under UNIX to Windows, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: back to the top

Back Up Existing Sites and Configurations before a UNIX-to-Windows Migration

Even if you are migrating your Web sites between UNIX and Windows by using two different computers, it is still possible to upset or delete vital information on either host, or to accidentally implement a change during the installation, that is difficult or impossible to back out of. Having a good backup of both computers before you start ensures that you can resolve these problems. Creating the backups also helps you to identify any additional files, settings or other requirements that you must migrate to the new Web server. For more information about how to back up Web site data, documents and configuration information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: back to the top

Understand Compatibility for a UNIX-to-Windows Migration

UNIX and Windows differ fundamentally in a number of different ways. Even seemingly irrelevant details such as the line termination that is used in text and script documents can cause problems when migrated. Other points to be aware of are the differences in file formats, the availability of different libraries (including POSIX compatibility) and other components, including database environments. These differences may limit, or in some cases even prevent, a simple migration from occurring. For more information about the level of compatibility and the differences between the platforms, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: back to the top