Retire a Windows Server Checklist

Audience

Staff

Overview

Checklist for retiring a Windows server.

Windows Server Retirement Checklist

To retire a server the below items will need to be completed. There is not a specific order, but it may be easier to follow the listing. Refer to Cabinet to Port and Server Retirement Tracking spreadsheets in netadmin\system_info folder.

1. Communicate to Managers that the server hosting their application is scheduled to be retired. If they require any files they will be on backups.
2. Notify Pitt NOC monitors of server shut down/ decommissioning
3. Optional WSUS – Remove the server from the WSUS system. (Not required, drops out after one month.)
4. IDRAC Alerts - If Physical power down the servers iDRAC alerts.
5. PM, SOM/SVC team, or Network – verify no jobs are still trying to communicate to the old server (SSIS, ETL's).
6. Warranty - If Physical Submit a request to SEI to remove the server from warranty contract (only for physical servers). login to http://portal.seiservice.com to check inventory and/or request removal.

7. Server Overview spreadsheet – update and place the server on the retired sheet.  \\univ.pitt.edu\svc\NetAdmin\System_info\Server Overview.xlsx

8. Server Overview sheet  mark as retired on all sheets.  "\\univ.pitt.edu\svc\Projects\ITSHARE\systems\Server Landscape\Server Overview.xlsx"

9. If Physical If server has a Pitt Asset Tag, complete the Asset Transfer / Retirement form here: http://www.cfo.pitt.edu/frs/cam_atrf.html  department No. 39071

10. Licenses (Confluence) – Update the License sheet for 2012 OS and later, moving the server to the retired section on the bottom and update the license details on the top. https://confluence.hs.pitt.edu/x/EwUBAQ

11. Remove all server monitors from App Manager. URL monitors may still be in use.
12. Send request to Pitt IT to power down the server, remove all vm files. 
13. Notify Trent Wissner to remove server from antivirus application.
14. Move Active Directory computer account to SVC - Servers Retired O.U. and edit description to add [RETIRED] and the date of retirement.
15. Revoke any certificates for the server or any IP address on the server.
16. Firewall – Delete any firewall entries specific to this server.
17. DNS - Submit request to remove any FQDN entries.
18. If Physical Label the physical server "Retired" as the last step. This means it can go to Pitt Surplus. 
19. Remove hardware and cabling from rack.
20. If Physical When server actually gets sent to Pitt Surplus, mark the Date in the Cabinet to port spreadsheet on Retired sheet.

If any other additional steps are required update the task list accordingly.

Feedback and Concerns:

If you have any feedback regarding this article, please reach out to hsitkb@pitt.edu.  You can also leave a comment below as well.