Moving Home Dirs?

[Netwacky87]

Hiya chaps,

 

Got a problem we are currently RAPIDLY moving out of HD space on our home dir server,

 

We have now brought a new server with alot more space!, Is there a quick way to move pupils home dirs to the new one and keep folder permissions?

 

Also a batch script/tool to change all the pupils home dir setting in Active Directory?

 

Thanks

 

Mart

[ChrisH]

There are a few posts on this. Look for robocopy to copy everything accross. As for changing the location in ad, just select all the users and go to properties and change the location like so \\newserver\newshare\%username%

[Netwacky87]

Thanks,

 

Tried selecting all the pupils in Active Directory, but I cant select the properties of them? Any ideas?

[DMcCoy]

using a search or selecting all the users in the OU?

[Netwacky87]

By selecting all users in the OU

[DMcCoy]

you aren't using windows 2000 server are you?

[Netwacky87]

Yes

 

That doesnt sound good lol

[meastaugh1]

ADModify?

[contink]

There are a few posts on this. Look for robocopy to copy everything accross.

 

There's been some mention of using the ntbackup tool to backup the data and then restore it to the new location as a much quicker approach. Proponents have suggested it copies all ownership and ACL's but you'd need to double check that.

[AnnDroyd]

Create the required folder structure on the new server / hard drive, then use xcopy with the /o switch to copy files from the old to new location, retaining permissions and file ownership.

 

Obviously you need to make a batch file to do this. Running DIR on your users folder than a bit of copy and pasting in excel will achieve this.

[Netwacky87]

Right oh, next new problem...

 

Backed up all pupils data with windows backup utilty and tried to restore it to the new server and it gets about 154MB done and says "not enough disk space", when there nearly 400GB's?

 

Cheers, Sorry to be a pain!

 

Mart

[ChrisH]

I cant see how making a backup then restoring would be quicker than a straight copy. The only reason I would do this maybe was to have a backup somewhere.

 

I have used robocopy a good few times to this kind of thing with no problems. I also use it as part of my backup routine to synchronise over 100 gig of data with no problems.

 

If your having trouble selecting properties make sure you are only selecting the users and not any groups or OUs. If you are using 2000 server I have heard that if you install the admin tools on an XP install and try this operation it will work but I cannot confirm that.

[AnnDroyd]

Like I say, just use xcopy /o and copy the lot straight from one location to another.

 

No need to be messing with backups, although if you have problems restoring from your backups you should sort this out subsequently, otherwise you could be in trouble if you have a disaster one day!

[Oops_my_bad]

I'm not sure if you can do this on win 2000 - but I carried out a similar operation a while back on w2k3 - basically we got the new server up, copied in phases the home dirs of students (incase it went tits up), then mass changed the user objects in AD to point to the new home dirs. When you do this it realises the home directories already exist so doesnt change them. It just updates the user object.

[Netwacky87]

No dont think you can do this on win 2k server!

 

Ive managed to move all the files over correctly but havent changed it in AD!, any help appreciated!

[DMcCoy]

I have done it with the old NT usermanager on Windows 2000. You have to find the real NT one, not the disabled one on 2000. I've no idea if it will break anything though, but I was able to modify the home dir attribute for multiple users. Win 2000 ADUC doesn't support editing multiple user properties.

 

I suggest you use AD modify linked above with the %username% it can edit a single property or lots, just edit the home folder one. You also have to run it on a local drive, not on a share due to .net permissions.

[AnnDroyd]

Yes, it works on W2000. It even worked in a similar way on NT4. The command was slightly different and you had to create the empty folder structure first, but it could still be done.

[ajbritton]

Robocopy will certainly copy files with all the permissions. Just specify the /COPY:DATSOU parameter, which will copy (D)ata, (A)ttributes, (T)imestamps, (S)ecurity, (O)wner and a(U)dit settings.

 

The other nice thing about robocopy is that you can re-run the same command to either recover from a failed copy or two keep the two servers in sync during a migration.

 

Robocopy GUI is useful to help configure all those parameters.

[AnnDroyd]

Doesn't it cost? Xcopy is free!

[ajbritton]

No, robocopy and robocopy gui are free.