fieldj
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Redirected Folders and Home Drive - how to manage migration to a new server
Hi,
I am looking for some advice on how to migrate our users redirected folders from a server 2008r2 file server to a new 2012r2 file server.
Currently the users My Documents, Downloads, Favourites are located in redirected folders on \\fileserver1\home$\%usern ame%\
We have a Folder Redirection GPO (assigned to our entire domain) which performs the redirection and also maps the H:\ drive to \\fileserver1\home$\%usern ame%\My Documents.
I want to manage the migration by moving a few users at a time.
I was thinking that I will use Robocopy to move all the contents of \\fileserver1\home$\%usern ame%\ to \\fileserver2\home$\%usern ame%\ (one user at a time) and then point them to the the new location.
However, as the folder redirection GPO is assigned to the entire domain and all authenticated users I am not sure the best way to manage this so that I can move them one at a time.
It is vital that I don't interrupt the existing users H:\ drive which may still be connected to fileserver1
I am looking for some advice on how to migrate our users redirected folders from a server 2008r2 file server to a new 2012r2 file server.
Currently the users My Documents, Downloads, Favourites are located in redirected folders on \\fileserver1\home$\%usern
We have a Folder Redirection GPO (assigned to our entire domain) which performs the redirection and also maps the H:\ drive to \\fileserver1\home$\%usern
I want to manage the migration by moving a few users at a time.
I was thinking that I will use Robocopy to move all the contents of \\fileserver1\home$\%usern
However, as the folder redirection GPO is assigned to the entire domain and all authenticated users I am not sure the best way to manage this so that I can move them one at a time.
It is vital that I don't interrupt the existing users H:\ drive which may still be connected to fileserver1
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FYI, your H: drive issue will resolve itself -- if you just change that part of the policy as well -- user's logins to their workstations will hang a bit while files are transferring -- they won't have a problem with the H: drive going to the wrong place though.
For any user that has more than their fair share of files in their home directory, you may want to just single those out to ROBOCOPY over (like more than 20GB)
For any user that has more than their fair share of files in their home directory, you may want to just single those out to ROBOCOPY over (like more than 20GB)
ASKER
I am not sure that I understand?
If I change the GPO to point to the new server, surely it will create a new set of (empty) folders on the new server when the user logs on and the old redirected folders will just be left on the old server wont they?
Also, this wont allow me to manage it a few users at a time.
If I change the GPO to point to the new server, surely it will create a new set of (empty) folders on the new server when the user logs on and the old redirected folders will just be left on the old server wont they?
Also, this wont allow me to manage it a few users at a time.
No, there is an option on the GPO to "Move the contents of My Documents to the new location" (or instead of "My Documents" it will say whichever folder you are configuring).
It MOVES them.
You just need to create the \\NEWSERVER\Users share -- Group Policy takes care of the rest.
All this is done BEFORE the user will have access to the desktop on their workstation (it will hang at "Applying User Settings" until the move is complete for each user)
It MOVES them.
You just need to create the \\NEWSERVER\Users share -- Group Policy takes care of the rest.
All this is done BEFORE the user will have access to the desktop on their workstation (it will hang at "Applying User Settings" until the move is complete for each user)
ASKER
Thanks guys.
I have chosen Joseph's method as I do really want to move a few users at a time.
Thanks for all the excellent answers though.
I have chosen Joseph's method as I do really want to move a few users at a time.
Thanks for all the excellent answers though.
Open Group Policy Management Editor
Navigate to
User Configuration
---Policies
------Windows Settings
---------Folder Redirection
Select folder you have redirected -> right click and go to Properties
Change path for new location
Apply new GPO by restarting computers or
CMD as administrator
gpyupdate /force
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