How to move a distribution server from one location to another?

Description

This document provides steps required to move a distribution server from one computer to another. You may want to move a distribution server from one location to another in the following scenarios:

• Moving the server from a test environment to a production environment
• Installing the server in a computer with a higher configuration
• Moving the distribution server to another location because of low disk space in the current drive
• Renaming a remote office (with a distribution server): It is not possible to rename a distribution server. However, you can move the distribution server from one location to another and give it a new name.

Steps

To move a distribution server from one location to another, follow the steps given below:

• Move Distribution Server from one to drive to another in the same computer
• Move Distribution Server from one computer to another

Move Distribution Server from one to drive to another in the same computer

1. Select the remote office msi zip from the Desktop Central server, by selecting the Remote Offices tab, under Scope of Management. Download the Agent for relevant Remote Office with respective Distribution Server.
2. After ensuring that the download is completed, Uninstall the existing distribution server from the Control panel > Add/ Remove Programs
3. Now, install the distribution server on the same computer. While prompted for the location, specify the new location where you wanted to move the Distribution server.
4. Stop 'ManageEngine Desktop Central -Distribution Server' service from services.msc
5. Copy only the "replication" folder from the previous location and paste in the new drive location.
   example : old Distribution server is located in C: drive, you can find the replication folder in this location <Program files>\DesktopCentral_DistributionServer\replication. You need to copy this folder and replace this folder under the same Distribution server location in the new drive.
   
   Note: If you skip step 5, the Distribution Server will have to download all the existing data again from the Desktop Central Server.
6. Start the 'ManageEngine DesktopCentral-Distribution Server' service.
   

You have successfully moved the Distribution server from one drive to another in the same computer.

Move Distribution Server from one computer to another

1. Login to the Web console of Desktop Central
2. Click the Admin tab
3. In the General Settings section, click Scope of Management
4. Click the Remote Office tab
5. Click the Edit icon against the respective remote office
6. Change the details of the computer in which the distribution server is installed with the details of the new computer in which you are installing the distribution server
7. Click Modify
8. Select remote office msi zip from the Desktop Central server, by selecting the Remote Offices tab, under Scope of Management. Download the Agent for relevant Remote Office with respective Distribution Server. to the computer where you wanted to install the new Distribution Server
9. Uninstall the old distribution server installation from Control panel > Add/ Remove Programs
10. Install the distribution server on the new computer
11. Stop 'ManageEngine DesktopCentral -Distribution Server' service from services.msc
12. Copy only the "replication" folder from the previous location and paste in the new computer.
    example : old Distribution server is located in C: drive, you can find the replication folder in this location <Program files>\DesktopCentral_DistributionServer\replication. You need to copy this folder and replace this folder under the same Distribution server location in the new computer.
    
    Note: If you skip step 12, the new Distribution Server will have to download all the existing data again from the Desktop Central Server.
13. Start the 'ManageEngine DesktopCentral -Distribution Server' service in the new computer

You have moved the distribution server from one computer to another. While the agents try to reach the old distribution server and finds that it is not reachable ,they will contact the Desktop Central server. Agents will get the new distribution server details from the Desktop Central server.