how do I copy web application from one farm to another in SharePoint 2013

Question

Farm 1 consists of several custom solutions and a web application that has custom features and a custom master page.

I have just configured a Farm 2.

I want to export the web application along with all the specification that it has in Farm1 to 2.

Is there any defined way to do so, that would help me copy everything that is assosiated with the web application?

Answer 1

You would need to

• Create a new Web Application in farm 2
• Export solutions* from farm 1
• Install solutions in farm 2
• Backup content databases belonging to the web application in farm 1
• Restore all content databases in farm 2
• Enable all features on farm 2 Web App | Site | Web that are enabled in farm 1 web app
• Test

From an abstract level, this works. To make things easier, have the same patch level in farm 2 as in farm 1 before you start to back up content databases.

*) Export Solution

if ($ver.Version.Major -gt 1) {$host.Runspace.ThreadOptions = "ReuseThread"}
if ((Get-PSSnapin "Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) -eq $null)
{
    Add-PSSnapin "Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell"
}
$farm = Get-SPFarm
$file = $farm.Solutions.Item("solutionName.wsp").SolutionFile
$file.SaveAs("c:\temp\solutionName.wsp") 

Answer 2

Due to customization, most of stuff is manually and required extra steps.

1. Build New Farm( make Sure it should be same version level)
2. Create and Configure the Service Applications
3. Create a New Web application and configure the Authentication. make sure same authentication
4. Now you have the Apply the customization( i.e any web .config change, hive folder changes etc)
5. Deploy the solutions in farm 2 ( i would prefer to deploy the solution using powershell), you should get source files( wsps)
6. Now activate features and apply the master page etc
7. Backup the Content DB from Farm 1
8. Restore the Content DB in Farm 2 and attach it to the web application.
9. now test it.