Question : migrate file shares, data and permissions from server 2003 to 2008

Hi,

I am changing from server 2003 to server 2008 R2 and have added the new server to the domain, transferred the FSMO roles and I am now looking at ways to transfer the shares and the data over whilst retaining the permissions.

I would like to keep the structure of the shares the same where possible. These are spread across different partitions on the original server due to different quota requirements. Access to shares is also controlled by groups that users are assigned to and drive mappings occur for different users at different levels of the folder structure. Basically it has taken quite a while to get things set up this way and I don't want to have to set these up again manually.

I have had a quick look at the microsoft file server migration tool kit, but I am not sure it will do exactly what I want. Other options I am considering are:
RichCopy http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/magazine/2009.04.utilityspotlight.aspx
Robocopy or maybe Robocopy GUI http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/magazine/2009.04.utilityspotlight.aspx

I found info on using a combination of xcopy and robocopy at http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winserverfiles/thread/292b40ec-a6b3-47db-b9ac-e7ab9aa5c913

There is another page regarding robocopy at http://thespidersparlor.com/technicalblog/?p=9 but it has a different command listed than some other articles I have read.

There is another article at http://thebackroomtech.com/2007/08/28/howto-migrate-file-shares-permissions-and-user-profiles-paths-in-a-windows-2003-domain/ which looks promising, but the author has slightly different aims to mine.

I am getting swamped with different options at the minute, does anyone have any advice on the best tool or combination of tools to achieve this kind of data transfer while minimising any manual processes after the copy?

Answer : migrate file shares, data and permissions from server 2003 to 2008

You can do it for free with Windows Backup.  Create a backup using Windows Backup (ntbackup.exe in 2003) and restore it to the new server.  All NTFS permissions will remain in-tact.  You do have to manually create the partition structure and manually share the folder (and set share permissions), but all the security around each folder, subfolder and files will remain as is on the 2003 server.