Transfer the operations master roles for Windows SBS 2011 Essentials migration

Published: March 10, 2011

Updated: May 12, 2011

Applies To: Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials

The operations master (also called flexible single master operations or FSMO) roles must be transferred from the Source Server to the Destination Server within 21 days of installing Windows SBS 2011 Essentials on the Destination Server.

To transfer the operations master roles

1. On the Destination Server, open a Command Prompt window as an administrator. See To open a Command Prompt window as an Administrator.

2. At the command prompt, type NETDOM QUERY FSMO, and then press ENTER.

3. At the command prompt, type ntdsutil, and then press ENTER.

4. At the ntdsutil command prompt, enter the following commands:

   1. Type activate instance NTDS, and then press ENTER.

   2. Type roles, and then press ENTER.

   3. Type connections, and then press ENTER.

   4. Type connect to server <ServerName> (where <ServerName> is the name of the Destination Server), and then press ENTER.

   5. At the command prompt, type q, and then press ENTER.

      • Type transfer PDC, press ENTER, and then click Yes in the Role Transfer Confirmation dialog box.

      • Type transfer infrastructure master, press ENTER, and then click Yes in the Role Transfer Confirmation dialog box.

      • Type transfer naming master, press ENTER, and then click Yes on the Role Transfer Confirmation dialog box.

      • Type transfer RID master, press ENTER, and then click Yes on the Role Transfer Confirmation dialog box.

      • Type transfer schema master, press ENTER, and then click Yes on the Role Transfer Confirmation dialog box.

   6. Type q, and then press ENTER until you return to the command prompt.

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