Migrating User Workstations

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

For each batch of user accounts that you migrate, migrate a batch containing those users’ workstations, so the user account and the workstation exist in the target domain when the user logs on. When you move workstations between domains, the Security Accounts Manager (SAM) database moves along with them. Accounts located in the local SAM database (such as local groups) that are used to enable access to resources always move with the computer, and therefore do not need to be migrated.

Note

  • Restart workstations immediately after joining them to the target domain, by selecting a low number (such as 1) for the RestartDelay parameter. Resources that are not restarted following migration are in an indeterminate state.

You can migrate workstations by using the ADMT console, by using the ADMT command-line option, or by using a script.

To migrate workstations by using the ADMT console

  1. On the domain controller in the target domain on which ADMT is installed, log on by using the ADMT resource migration account.

  2. Open the Active Directory Migration Tool and select Computer Account Migration Wizard.

  3. Complete the Computer Account Migration Wizard by using the information provided in Table 10.14.

    Table 10.14   Using the Computer Account Migration Wizard to Migrate Workstations

    Wizard Page Action

    Test or Make Changes

    Select Migrate Now?

    Domain Selection

    In the Source domain box, type or select the NetBIOS name of the source domain.

    In the Target domain box, type or select the NetBIOS or DNS name of the target domain.

    Computer Selection

    Click Add.

    In the Select Computers dialog box, select the names of all the workstations in the source domain that are being migrated in this batch, click Add, and then click OK.

    Organizational Unit Selection

    Click Browse.

    In the Browse for Container dialog box, find the container in the target domain to which the computers are migrating, and then click OK.

    Translate Objects

    Ensure that no boxes are selected.

    Computer Options

    In the Minutes before computer restart after wizard completion box, type 1.

    Select Do not rename computers.

    Naming Conflicts

    Select Ignore conflicting accounts and don’t migrate.

  4. When the wizard has finished running on all computers, click View Log and review the migration log for any errors. If errors are reported, run the Retry Wizard to dispatch agents to workstations for which the migration process failed.

  5. Start Active Directory Users and Computers, then and verify that the workstations exist in the appropriate OU in the target domain.

To migrate workstations by using the ADMT command-line option

  1. On the domain controller in the target domain on which ADMT installed, log on by using the ADMT resource migration account.

  2. At the command line, type:

    ADMT COMPUTER /N “computer_name1” “computer_name2” [parameters]

    You can append parameters to the command as follows:

    ADMT COMPUTER /N “computer_name1” “computer_name2” /SD:”source_domain” /TD:”target_domain” /TO:”target_OU” /RDL:1

    Alternatively, you can include parameters in an option file that is specified on the command line as follows:

    ADMT COMPUTER /N “computer_name1” “computer_name2” /O “option_file.txt”

    Table 10.15 lists the parameters required for migrating workstations, along with the command-line parameter and option file equivalents.

    Table 10.15   Parameters Required for Workstation Migrations

    Parameters Command-Line Syntax Option File Syntax

    Source domain

    /SD:"source_domain"

    SourceDomain="source_ domain"

    Target domain

    /TD:"target_domain"

    TargetDomain="target_ domain"

    Target OU location

    /TO:"target_OU"

    TargetOU="target_OU"
    • Restart computer one minute after wizard completes

    /RDL:1

    RestartDelay=1
    • Do not rename accounts

    /RO:DONT (default)

    RenameOption=DONT
    • Ignore conflicting accounts and do not migrate them

    /CO:IGNORE (default)

    ConflictOptions=IGNORE

  3. Review the results that are displayed on the screen for any errors.

  4. Start Active Directory Users and Computers, and then navigate to the target OU. Verify that the workstations exist in the target OU.

To migrate workstations by using a script

  • Prepare a script that incorporates ADMT commands and options for migrating workstations by using the sample script shown in Listing 10.8.

    Listing 10.8   Migrating Workstations or Member Servers

    <Job id=" MigratingWorkstationsMemberServersNTSource" >
<Script language=" VBScript"  src=" AdmtConstants.vbs" />
<Script language=" VBScript" >
   Option Explicit

   Dim objMigration
   Dim objComputerMigration

   '
   'Create instance of ADMT migration objects.
   '
   Set objMigration = CreateObject(" ADMT.Migration" )
   Set objComputerMigration = objMigration.CreateComputerMigration

   '
   'Specify general migration options.
   '
   objMigration.SourceDomain = " source domain"
   objMigration.TargetDomain = " target domain"
   objMigration.TargetOu = " Computers"

   '
   'Specify computer migration specific options.
   '
   objComputerMigration.RestartDelay = 1

   '
   'Migrate computer objects on specified computer objects.
   '
   objComputerMigration.Migrate admtData, _
  Array(" computer name1" ," computer name2" )

   Set objComputerMigration = Nothing
   Set objMigration = Nothing
</Script>
</Job>

    For a sample script file to assist you in migrating workstations, see "Migrating Workstations or Member Servers — Windows NT 4.0 Source" (DSSRENT_10.wsf) on the Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit companion CD (or see "Migrating Workstations or Member Servers — Windows NT 4.0 Source" on the Web at https://www.microsoft.com/reskit).