I have a late 2006 Xserve running 10.5.8 server, wanting to upgrade it to 10.6.8 and then enevtually to 10.6.8 server, and understand that you have to wipe everything and do a clean install in order to get it on snow leopard. What's the easiest way to restore all files/applications using Time Machine without downgrading OS back to 10.5.8?
Xserve, OS X Server, OS X Server 10.5.8
What applications do you have installed that can't be re-installed using the installers? I ask because if you're going to start from scratch why not do it properly for everything?
As for data copy these over to a suitably sized hard drive. This is good practice anyway as it will give you a backup of what's really important in case things go wrong.
If your current server is an OD Master and assuming a large-ish user base simply export Users, Groups which also exports applied policies (if any) and re-import them when you've configured the new server. Define a password policy that forces everyone to change it at next log-in.
FWIW I would never use Time Machine with OS X Server (any version). Fine for OS X Client (which is what you should use it for) but for OS X Server it's too unreliable.
Upgrading from 10.5.8 Server to 10.6
