Moving the Workflow Server

Follow these steps to move a Workflow server instance from one computer to another.

Note: Moving a server instance is best done at a time when there is minimal traffic on the server.

To prepare for the move:

  1. Install Workflow Server on the new server.
  2. On the existing server:
    1. Run the Server Summary tool to get an inventory of all script references and custom activities. Take note of their locations and copy them to the new server.
    2. Run the Server Configuration manager and note all service users, database names and the Workflow volume location.

When ready to migrate:

  1. Verify that workflow does not have a backlog of work on the current server by checking the Windows Message Queuing from the Computer Management control panel and ensure that the workflow queues are empty.
  2. Stop Workflow services on the old server.
  3. Copy the Workflow volume to the new server. You can copy the Workflow volume either by copying the volume folder into the same path on the new server, or placing the volume folder in another location and selecting the folder in the Workflow Server Configuration wizard.
  4. If not already done, copy all script references and custom workflows over to the new server in the same paths - refer to the report from the preparation steps for locations.
  5. Use the Workflow Configuration Manager to configure the newer version of Workflow Server to use the service account, the SQL database and credentials, and the workflow volume that the old Workflow server was using.

Note: Business processes will need to be republished to update them with the new server name. A DNS Alias may be created to map the previous server name to the new server as an alternate solution to republishing.