I use the backup and restore function for sharepoint.

It works fine...as long as they are both the same
version and service packs.

Are we talking about 2001 ---> 2003 migration  or just
the same puppy but a different location...???

Moving from one server  (SP Services + MSDE) to 2 servers (SP Services on one
server, and sql  Server 2000 on another).

Same version of everything. Just different boxes.

I've seen the backup and restore function of FrontPage. However, that would
mean moving each site  individually. We're looking into deploying all of
them at one time, if possible. I have tried the article on technet.
www.microsoft.com/.../
sharepoint/movewsdb.mspx However, I keep getting "The IIS application pool
user name is invalid." when I set the configuration database  in Windows
Sharepoint Services (see article).

Any ideas? Can you please be more detailed in your reply? I'm a SharePoint
newbie.

When you say SP services are you meaning.
windows sharepoint  services or SharePoint Portal
Server.

How many documents...how many sites....what type of
documents..???

The book I am referring to is

SharePoint Products and Technologies
Resource Kit.

There is also a new one called
Windows SharePoint Services

Become familiar with both...it is essential to make a
good migration  of data from SharePoint.

This yahoogroup is not a cookbook site..but if
something is easily answere people will help...but you
have a big job ahead of you.

I mean Windows SharePoint Services...............

Oh if you want to migrate  a windows SharePoint site

you use the stsadmin command

Google it and you will find the page...I will send you
a help screen from a dos prompt ...what you will get
...

stsadm.exe -o backup -url http://server/site -filename
backup.dat -overwrite

you will find how to restore also when you google