How do you migrate an IIS 7 site to another server?

I'm wondering what is the best practice for moving a website to another server (along with all settings, etc.)

• Manually recreate the site on the new server (not maintainable for obvious reasons)
• Copy the applicationHost.config settings file
• Use appcmd to make a backup and restore
• Use MSDeploy to publish the site on the new machine
• Use a 3rd party tool

Just wondering what others' experiences have been.

Solution 1:

I'd say export your server config in IIS manager:

1. In IIS manager, click the Server node
2. Go to Shared Configuration under "Management"
3. Click “Export Configuration”. (You can use a password if you are sending them across the internet, if you are just gonna move them via a USB key then don't sweat it.)

4. Move these files to your new server

   administration.config
   applicationHost.config
   configEncKey.key 
   

5. On the new server, go back to the “Shared Configuration” section and check “Enable shared configuration.” Enter the location in physical path to these files and apply them.

6. It should prompt for the encryption password(if you set it) and reset IIS.

BAM! Go have a beer!

Solution 2:

MSDeploy can migrate all content, config, etc. that is what the IIS team recommends. http://www.iis.net/extensions/WebDeploymentTool

To create a package, run the following command (replace Default Web Site with your web site name):

msdeploy.exe -verb:sync -source:apphostconfig="Default Web Site" -dest:package=c:\dws.zip > DWSpackage7.log

To restore the package, run the following command:

msdeploy.exe -verb:sync -source:package=c:\dws.zip -dest:apphostconfig="Default Web Site" > DWSpackage7.log