Web application needs an alternate URL or 'extended web application'

Question

On final migration day, I'll be removing the name from our old WSS 3.0 server (http://sharepoint.domain.com) and placing it on our SharePoint 2010 server. I'd still like to be able to access our old server at a URL just in case there are issues. I tried to Extend the Web App on our WSS 3.0 server, however, Service Unavailable was reported for all URLs (old & new). I got it working (with help from this forum - thank you!) but not with the Extended Web App in place. Had to back it out. Is there another way to access the server (perhaps using server name & port?) or do I need to set aside some server downtime where I can troubleshoot the Extended Web App/Service Unavailable issue?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

There is actually a pretty simple solution. Merely have your DNS folks whip up a new DNS entry (like http://sharepoint07.domain.com - note the 07 in there), point that to your current 07 server and then add that as the URL for one of your Zones in your Alternate Access Mappings( I.E. Intranet/Internet/Extranet/Custom).

When the migration happens, http://sharepoint.domain.com can move over to 2010 without any fuss and you can continue to access your 07 site on the new http://sharepoint07.domain.com url for as long as it is needed.

If you have fiddled with the settings in IIS, you may need to also add the sharepoint07.domain.com as one of the valid host headers for your SP 07 site.