Migrating SYSVOL replication from NTFRS to DFSR using Windows Server 2008 R2

Scenario

You’ve raised the domain functional level to take advantage of several new features, one of them being DFS Replication for SYSVOL. You now need to enable this feature.

Here’s how to migrate SYSVOL replication from NTFRS to DFSR:

Solution

Use the DfsrMig.exe tool found in the %SystemRoot%\system32 folder.

Windows Server 2008 ships a command line tool called dfsrmig.exe which can be used by administrators to migrate from NTFRS replication of the SYSVOL folder to using DFSR for replication of SYSVOL. This can be done once the domain functional level has been raised to Windows Server 2008 or above.

The SYSVOL migration process:

  • Is simple and requires minimal admin intervention.
  • Is designed to be low risk and requires minimal downtime of the SYSVOL share.
  • Provides granular control to administrators so that they can monitor the status of migration and commit to DFSR replication of SYSVOL when everything is working smoothly.
  • Is reversible and allows the migration process to be rolled back prior to the final commit stage, thus allowing administrators to fall back on NTFRS replication of SYSVOL if desired.
  • Is robust, fault tolerant and is latency resilient, thus making it suitable for migration of domain controllers located in branch offices as well.
  • Provides built in monitoring mechanisms which can be used to keep track of the status of migration.

Read more at http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2007/12/26/what-s-new-in-windows-server-2008.aspx

A great step-by-step guide to using the DfsrMig.exe tool can be found at http://www.serverwatch.com/tutorials/article.php/3814161/Win-Server-2008-Directory-Services-SYSVOL-DFS-Replication.htm or an even more thorough series of posts start here: http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2008/02/08/sysvol-migration-series-part-1-introduction-to-the-sysvol-migration-process.aspx

View command switches here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd641227(v=ws.10).aspx

An example set of commands might be:

  1. DFSRMig /SetGlobalState 1
  2. DFSRMig /GetGlobalState
  3. DFSRMig /GetMigrationState
  4. DFSRMig /SetGlobalState 2
  5. DFSRMig /GetMigrationState
    If this command says some DCs are not in sync, you can Force Replication
  6. DFSRMig /SetGlobalState 3

Trackbacks

  1. Raise Domain and Forest Function Level

    Raise Domain and Forest Function Level (to 2008R2)