Remigrating User Accounts and Migrating Workstations in Batches

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2

Applies to: Active Directory Migration Tool 3.2 (ADMT 3.2)

Remigrating user accounts and workstations in batches helps you track the migration process. For each batch of users, first translate local user profiles and then migrate workstations. Verify that the profile and workstation migration succeeded, and then migrate the user accounts. Remigrate global groups after each batch. For more information, see Remigrating All Global Groups After All Batches Are Migrated, later in this guide.

Translating local user profiles

The Active Directory Migration Tool (ADMT) translates profiles for supported computer migration objects. For a list of the operating systems that are supported for computer migration objects for different versions of ADMT, see Active Directory Migration Tool versions and supported environments.

Local profiles are translated in replace mode because if you perform the profile translation in add mode, software installation by means of Group Policy software deployment might not work. Any application that is packaged with Windows Installer version 2.0 (which is used on workstations that are running Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 3 (SP3) or Service Pack 4 (SP4), Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Service Pack 2 (SP2), and in many common software packages) might not function after the profile is translated. When the ADMT Security Translation Wizard is translating local profiles in replace mode, it reverts to add mode if a profile is locked. This might result in a successful profile translation. However, application installations might not function after the profile is translated.

Before you start the local user profile translation, allow enough time for the workstations to restart after you move them to the target domain. Allow for the ADMT time delay factor (five minutes by default) plus the time required for a restart cycle for your workstations.

Note

The night before you notify the users to log on by using their new accounts in the target domain, translate the local user profiles. Translating profiles the night before ensures that the new user profile reflects the most current user settings.

You can translate local user profiles by using the ADMT snap-in, the ADMT command-line option, or a script.

To translate local user profiles by using the ADMT snap-in

  1. For each workstation in the source domain that you are migrating, add the ADMT resource migration account to the local Administrators group.

  2. On the computer in the target domain on which ADMT is installed, log on by using the ADMT account migration account.

  3. Use the Security Translation Wizard by performing the steps in the following table.

    Wizard page Action

    Security Translation Options

    Click Previously migrated objects.

    Domain Selection

    Under Source, in the Domain drop-down list, type or select the NetBIOS or Domain Name System (DNS) name of the source domain. In the Domain controller drop-down list, type or select the name of the domain controller, or select Any domain controller.

    Under Target, in the Domain drop-down list, type or select the NetBIOS or DNS name of the target domain. In the Domain controller drop-down list, type or select the name of the domain controller, or select Any domain controller, and then click Next.

    Computer Selection

    Click Select computers from domain, and then click Next. On the Computer Selection page, click Add to select the computers in the source domain for which you want to translate security, click OK, and then click Next.

    Or

    Click Read objects from an include file, and then click Next. Type the location of the include file, and then click Next.

    Translate Objects

    Click User Profiles.

    Security Translation Options

    Click Replace.

    ADMT Agent Dialog

    Select Run pre-check and agent operation, and then click Start.

  4. Review the results that are displayed on the screen for any errors. After the wizard completes, click View Migration Log to see the list of computers, completion status, and the path to the log file for each computer. If an error is reported for a computer, you will have to refer to the log file on that computer to review any problems with local groups. The log file for each computer is named MigrationTaskID.log, and it is stored in the Windows\ADMT\Logs\Agents folder.

To translate local user profiles by using the ADMT command-line option

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

  2. At the command line, type the ADMT Security command with the appropriate parameters, and then press ENTER:

    ADMT SECURITY /N "<computer_name1>" "<computer_name2>" /SD:" <source_domain>" /TD:" <target_domain>" /TO:" <target_OU>" /TOT:Replace /TUP:YES

    As an alternative, you can include parameters in an option file that is specified at the command line as follows:

    ADMT SECURITY /N "<computer_name1>" " <computer_name2>" /O "<option_file>.txt"

    The following table lists the common parameters that are used for migrating user accounts, along with the command-line parameter and option file equivalents.

    Parameters Command-line syntax Option file syntax

    <Source domain>

    /SD:"source_domain"

    SourceDomain="source_domain"

    <Target domain>

    /TD:"target_domain"

    TargetDomain="target_domain"

    Security translation options

    /TOT:REPLACE

    TranslateOption=REPLACE

    Modify local user profile security

    /TUP:YES

    TranslateUserProfiles=YES

  3. Review the results that appear on the screen for any errors. After the wizard completes, click View Migration Log to see the list of computers, completion status, and the path to the log file for each computer. If an error is reported for a computer, you will have to refer to the log file on that computer to review any problems with local groups. The log file for each computer is named MigrationTaskID.log and is stored in the Windows\ADMT\Logs\Agents folder.

To translate local user profiles by using a script

  • Prepare a script that incorporates ADMT commands and options for translating local user profiles by using the following sample script. Copy the script to Notepad, and save the file with a .wsf file name extension in the same folder as the AdmtConstants.vbs file.

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

   Dim objMigration
   Dim objSecurityTranslation

   '
   'Create instance of ADMT migration objects.
   '

   Set objMigration = CreateObject("ADMT.Migration" )
   Set objSecurityTranslation = objMigration.CreateSecurityTranslation

   '
   'Specify general migration options.
   '

   objMigration.SourceDomain = "source domain" 
   objMigration.TargetDomain = "target domain" 
   objMigration.TargetOu = "Computers" 

   '
   'Specify security translation specific options.
   '

   objSecurityTranslation.TranslationOption = admtTranslateReplace
   objSecurityTranslation.TranslateUserProfiles = True

   '
   'Perform security translation on specified computer objects.
   '

   objSecurityTranslation.Translate admtData, _
  Array("computer name1" ,"computer name2" )

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

Migrating workstations in batches

After you migrate a batch of local user profiles, migrate the corresponding batch of user workstations. When you migrate a workstation between domains, the Security Accounts Manager (SAM) database is migrated along with the computer. Accounts located in the local SAM database (such as local groups) that are used to enable access to resources always move with the computer. Therefore, they do not have to be migrated.

If a workstation has managed service accounts installed and those accounts have been previously migrated, ADMT provides an option to reinstall the migrated managed service account on the migrated computer and update Service Control Manager. So that ADMT can perform this operation, the account performing the computer migration needs permissions to modify the security descriptor of the migrated managed service account.

Note

To restart workstations immediately after joining them to the target domain, or as soon as possible thereafter, use a low value for the ADMT RestartDelay parameter. Resources that are not restarted after migration are in an indeterminate state.

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

To migrate workstations by using the ADMT snap-in

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

  2. Use the Computer Migration Wizard by following the steps in the following table.

    Wizard page Action

    Domain Selection

    Under Source, in the Domain drop-down list, type or select the NetBIOS or Domain Name System (DNS) name of the source domain. In the Domain controller drop-down list, type or select the name of the domain controller, or select Any domain controller.

    Under Target, in the Domain drop-down list, type or select the NetBIOS or DNS name of the target domain. In the Domain controller drop-down list, type or select the name of the domain controller, or select Any domain controller, and then click Next.

    Computer Selection

    Click Select computers from domain, and then click Next. On the Computer Selection page, click Add to select the computers in the source domain that you want to migrate, click OK, and then click Next.

    Or

    Click Read objects from an include file, and then click Next. Type the location of the include file, and then click Next.

    Managed Service Account Information (appears if the computer has a managed service account installed)

    Select any managed service accounts that do not have to be installed on the migrated computer in the target domain, and then click Skip/Include to mark the accounts as Skip.

    Organizational Unit Selection

    Click Browse.

    In the Browse for Container dialog box, locate the target domain Computers container or the appropriate organizational unit (OU), and then click OK.

    Translate Objects

    Select the Local groups check box.

    Select the User rights check box.

    Security Translation Options

    Click Add.

    Computer Options

    In the Minutes before computer restart after wizard completion box, accept the default value of 5 minutes or type a different value.

    Object Property Exclusion

    To exclude certain object properties from the migration, select the Exclude specific object properties from migration check box, select the object properties that you want to exclude and move them to the Excluded Properties box, and then click Next.

    Conflict Management

    Click Do not migrate source object if a conflict is detected in the target domain.

    ADMT Agent Dialog

    Select Run pre-check and agent operation, and then click Start.

  3. Review the results that are displayed on the screen for any errors. After the wizard completes, click View Migration Log to see the list of computers, completion status, and the path to the log file for each computer. If an error is reported for a computer, you will have to refer to the log file on that computer to review any problems with local groups. The log file for each computer is named MigrationTaskID.log, and it is stored in the Windows\ADMT\Logs\Agents folder.

  4. Open Active Directory Users and Computers, 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 computer in the target domain on which ADMT is installed, log on by using the ADMT resource migration account.

  2. At the command line, type the ADMT Computer command with the appropriate parameters, and then press ENTER:

    ADMT COMPUTER /N "<computer_name1>" "<computer_name2>" /SD:"<source_domain>" /TD:"<target_domain>" /TO:"<target_OU>" [/M: “<managed service account name 1>” “<managed service account name 2>”] [/UALLMSA:Yes] /RDL:5

    As an alternative, you can include parameters in an option file that is specified at the command line, as follows:

    ADMT COMPUTER /N "<computer_name1>" "<computer_name2>" /O:" <option_file>.txt"

    The following table lists the common parameters that are used for workstation migration, along with the command-line parameter and option file equivalents.

    Parameters Command-line syntax Option file syntax

    <Source domain>

    SD:"source_domain"

    SourceDomain="source_domain"

    <Source OU> location

    /SO:"source_OU"

    SourceOU="source_OU"

    <Target domain>

    /TD:"target_domain"

    TargetDomain="target_domain"

    Update all managed service accounts

    /UALLMSA: YES

    UpdateAllManagedServiceAccounts=Yes

    Update specific managed service accounts

    Note
    The /M parameter takes precedence over the /UALLMSA parameter.

    /M: “name 1” “name 2”…

    UPDATEMSANAME=“name 1” “name 2”…

    <Target OU> location

    /TO:"target_OU"

    TargetOU="target_OU"

    Restart delay (minutes)

    /RDL:5

    RestartDelay=5

    Security translation option

    /TOT:ADD

    TranslationOption=ADD

    Translate user rights

    /TUR:YES

    TranslateUserRights=YES

    Translate local groups

    /TLG:YES

    TranslateLocalGroups=YES

  3. Review the results that appear on the screen for any errors. The migration log lists computers, completion status, and the path to the log file for each computer. If an error is reported for a computer, you will have to refer to the log file for that computer to review any problems with local groups. The log file for each computer is named MigrationTaskID.log, and it is stored in the Windows\ADMT\Logs\Agents folder.

  4. Open Active Directory Users and Computers, and locate 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 following sample script. Copy the script to Notepad, and save the file with a .wsf file name extension in the same folder as the AdmtConstants.vbs file.

    <Job id="MigratingWorkstationsBwtweenForest" >
<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.SourceOu = "Computers" 
   objMigration.TargetDomain = "target domain" 
   objMigration.TargetOu = "Computers" 

   '
   'Specify computer migration specific options.
   '

   objComputerMigration.RestartDelay = 1
   objComputerMigration.TranslationOption = admtTranslateAdd
   objComputerMigration.TranslateLocalGroups = True
   objComputerMigration.TranslateUserRights = True
   objComputerMigration.UpdateAllManagedServiceAccounts = True


   '
   'Migrate computer objects on specified computer objects.
   '

   objComputerMigration.Migrate admtData, _
  Array("computer name1" ,"computer name2" )

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

Remigrating user accounts in batches

After you have verified the success of your migration of local user profiles and user workstations for the user batch, migrate the user accounts for that batch.

You can migrate user accounts in batches by using the ADMT snap-in, the ADMT command-line option, or a script. If you are migrating user accounts that have authentication mechanism assurance enabled, use an include file. In the include file, specify the original user principal names (UPNs) from the source domain as the target UPNs to keep the authentication mechanism assurance working. For more information about using an include file, see Use an Include File.

To remigrate the current batch of user accounts by using the ADMT snap-in

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

  2. Use the User Account Migration Wizard by following the steps in the following table.

    Wizard page Action

    Domain Selection

    Under Source, in the Domain drop-down list, type or select the NetBIOS or Domain Name System (DNS) name of the source domain. In the Domain controller drop-down list, type or select the name of the domain controller, or select Any domain controller.

    Under Target, in the Domain drop-down list, type or select the NetBIOS or DNS name of the target domain. In the Domain controller drop-down list, type or select the name of the domain controller, or select Any domain controller, and then click Next.

    User Selection

    Click Select users from domain, and then click Next. On the User Selection page, click Add to select the users in the source domain that you want to migrate in the current batch, click OK, and then click Next.

    Or

    Click Read objects from an include file, and then click Next. Type the location of the include file, and then click Next.

    Organizational Unit Selection

    Ensure that ADMT lists the correct target OU. If it is not correct, type the correct OU, or click Browse.

    In the Browse for Container dialog box, locate the target domain and OU, and then click OK.

    Password Options

    Click Migrate Passwords.

    In Password migration source DC:, type the name of the password export server or accept the default value.

    Account Transition Options

    In Target Account State:, click Enable target accounts.

    In Source Account Disabling Options:, click Days until source accounts expire:, and then type the number of days that you want to keep the source account. A value of 7 is commonly used.

    Select the Migrate user SIDs to target domains check box.

    User Account

    Type the user name, password, and domain of a user account that has administrative credentials.

    User Options

    Select the Translate roaming profiles check box.

    Select the Update user rights check box.

    Select the Migrate associated user groups check box.

    Select Fix users’ group memberships check box.

    Object Property Exclusion

    Clear the Exclude specific object properties from migration check box.

    Conflict Management

    Click Migrate and merge conflicting objects.

    Clear the Before merging remove user rights for existing target accounts check box.

    Clear the Move merged objects to specified target Organizational Unit check box.

  3. When the wizard finishes, click View Log, and review the migration log for any errors.

  4. Open Active Directory Users and Computers and verify that the user accounts exist in the appropriate OU in the target domain.

To remigrate the current batch of users by using the ADMT command-line option

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

  2. At the command line, type the ADMT User command with the appropriate parameters, and then press ENTER:

    ADMT USER /N "<user_name1>" "<user_name2>" /SD:" <source_domain>" /TD:" <target_domain>" /TO:" <target_OU>" /MSS:YES /TRP:YES /UUR:YES

    As an alternative, you can include parameters in an option file that is specified at the command line, as follows:

    ADMT USER /N "<user_name1>" "<user_name2>" /O "<option_file>.txt"

    The following table lists the common parameters that are used for migrating user accounts, along with the command-line parameter and option file equivalents.

    Parameters Command-line syntax Option file syntax

    <Source domain>

    /SD:"source_domain"

    SourceDomain="source_domain"

    <Source OU> location

    /SO:"source_OU"

    SourceOU="source_OU"

    <Target domain>

    /TD:"target_domain"

    TargetDomain="target_domain"

    <Target OU> location

    /TO:"target_OU"

    TargetOU="target_OU"

    Migrate SIDs

    /MSS:YES

    MigrateSIDs=YES

    Conflict management

    /CO:REPLACE

    ConflictOptions=REPLACE

    Translate roaming profile

    /TRP:YES (default)

    TranslateRoamingProfile=YES

    Update user rights

    /UUR:YES

    UpdateUserRights=YES

    Password options

    /PO:COPY /PS:<name of PES server>

    PasswordOption=COPY

    PasswordServer=:<name of PES server>

    Source expiration

    /SEP:30

    SourceExpiration=30

  3. Review the results that appear on the screen for any errors.

  4. Open Active Directory Users and Computers, and locate the target OU. Verify that the users exist in the target OU.

To remigrate the current batch of user accounts by using a script

  • Prepare a script that incorporates ADMT commands and options for migrating users by using the following sample script. Copy the script to Notepad, and save the file with a .wsf file name extension in the same folder as the AdmtConstants.vbs file.

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

   Dim objMigration
   Dim objUserMigration

   '
   'Create instance of ADMT migration objects.
   '

   Set objMigration = CreateObject("ADMT.Migration" )
   Set objUserMigration = objMigration.CreateUserMigration

   '
   'Specify general migration options.
   '

   objMigration.SourceDomain = "source domain" 
   objMigration.SourceOu = "source container" 
   objMigration.TargetDomain = "target domain" 
   objMigration.TargetOu = "target container" 
   objMigration.PasswordOption = admtCopyPassword
   objMigration.PasswordServer = "password export server name" 
   objMigration.ConflictOptions = admtReplaceConflicting
   '
   'Specify user migration specific options.
   '
   objUserMigration.SourceExpiration = 7
   objUserMigration.MigrateSIDs = True
   objUserMigration.TranslateRoamingProfile = True
   objUserMigration.UpdateUserRights = False
   objUserMigration.FixGroupMembership = True
   objUserMigration.MigrateServiceAccounts = False

   '
   'Migrate specified user objects.
   '

   objUserMigration.Migrate admtData, Array("user name1" ,"user name2" )

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

Remigrating all global groups after user account migration

A large user account migration might take place over an extended period of time. For this reason, you may have to remigrate global groups from the source to the target domain after you migrate each batch of users. The objective is to reflect changes that are made to group membership in the source domain after the initial global group migration has occurred. For more information about—and procedures for—remigrating global groups, see Remigrating All Global Groups After All Batches Are Migrated, later in this guide.