DFS Migration

[NewBoy]

Morning,

 

I have to replace a file server running 2008R2 with a 2012R2 server my question is regarding the data on the server and the best way to migrate it to the new server so am i best off,

 

• setting up DFS on the new server and transferring it that way (If so any advice on how to do this please)
  

 

or

 

• Using XCOPY with the appropriate switches i.e. XCOPY D:\Data D:\Data /X/H/E/V/D/Y and then just re-applying the relevant shares as the command will take across all the existing permissions.
  

 

I have never used DFS before so would like to know the process of migrating the data across and if it's more efficient than DOS.

 

Cheers in advance.

[snagrat]

Have a look at Microsoft File Server Migration Toolkit to assist you moving the DFS

[3s-gtech]

I guess you want to use replication with DFS (DFS-R). The last time I did this (we have used DFS-R for years) I seeded the shares with Robocopy after creating the DFS replications. I think this was MS's recommended method. You could just let it seed itself, but it can be pretty slow.

[NewBoy]

Just looking at the available options as it's the only file server on the site so as far as I can see doesn't really need DFS, I was only considering this as an option as someone had previously installed it on the existing FS. I can't actually see any reason why I would need it on the new server just wondered it it would make the migration easier, I may look into the Server Migration Toolkit unless there is another valid reason for having DFS.

[minimoo]

Whilst i've never used replication etc, one benefit of having DFS setup - if it's setup at the domain level is users paths/shortcuts etc in theory all continue to work after file server is changed.

 

i.e. if user's user area is mapped to \\domain\users\staff\fred - and \\domain\users\staff points to \\fileserver1\staff$ for instance. Any documents/macros or weird stuff like that store a file path continue to work as you would update the mapping to fileserver2.

[3s-gtech]

With a single server (no replication), DFS makes migration easier because you never need to update file paths, profile paths etc - you only ever need to point them at domain.com\path and when you replace or update a server in future it's seamless. You can use the replication feature to help migration then switch it off when you retire the old server.