Question : Virtualize a Domino server

I want to move my physical Domino server to a virtual one.  I was told that rather than running a VmWare program to do this, it would be best to build the new server install Domino and move the configuration and mail boxes.  Looking for advice (if this is the way) on how to perform the task.

Answer : Virtualize a Domino server

I suppose that you need a virtualised Domino server, and that you do not want to copy the entire server+O/S to a virtual system. If that is the case:
- set up the VM and install the O/S
- install Domino, but don't set it up
- shut down the running Domino server, but leave the server on
- copy/move the entire Domino data tree from the old server to the virtual one
- copy all additional S/W to the virtual server (Externsion Manager stuff, etc.)
- now shutdown the old server or give it a different DNS-name and/or IP-address
- make sure the virtual server has the same credentials as the old server (IP-address)
- start the Domino server

This way, you can even move from a Windows server to a Linux server.
Users shouldn't even be aware of the difference.