Step-By-Step Guide For Upgrading SYSVOL Replication To DFSR (Distributed File System Replication) - RebelAdmin

5/16/2018 Step-by-Step Guide for upgrading SYSVOL replication to DFSR (Distributed File System Replication) - RebelAdmin
REBELADMIN
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR UPGRADING

SYSVOL REPLICATION TO DFSR
(DISTRIBUTED FILE SYSTEM REPLICATION)
SYSVOL is a folder shared by domain controller to hold its logon scripts, group policies and other
items related to AD. All the domain controllers in network will replicate the content of SYSVOL
folder. The default path for SYSVOL folder is %SystemRoot%\SYSVOL. This folder path can define
when you install the active directory.
Windows Server 2003 and 2003 R2 uses File Replication Service (FRS) to replicate SYSVOL folder
content to other domain controllers. But Windows server 2008 and later uses Distributed File
System (DFS) for the replication. DFS is more efficient than FRS. Since windows server 2003 is
going out of support, most people already done or still looking for migrate in to latest versions.
However migrating FSMO roles WILL NOT migrate SYSVOL replication from FRS to DFS. Most of the
engineers forget about this step when they migrate from windows 2003 to new versions.
For FRS to DFS migration we uses the Dfsrmig.exe utility. More info about it available on
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-au/library/dd641227(v=ws.10).aspx
For the demo I am using windows server 2012 R2 server and I migrated FSMO roles already from
a windows server 2003 R2 server.
In order to proceed with the migration forest function level must set to windows server 2008 or
later. So if your organization not done this yet first step is to get the forest and domain function
level updated.
You can verify if the system uses the FRS using dfsrmig /getglobalstate , To do this
http://www.rebeladmin.com/2015/04/step-by-step-guide-for-upgrading-sysvol-replication-to-dfsr-distributed-file-system-replication/ 1/16
1) Log in to domain controller as Domain admin or Enterprise Admin

2) Launch powershell console and type dfsrmig /getglobalstate. Output explains it’s not
initiated DFRS migration yet.
Before move in to the configurations we need to look into stages of the migration.
There are four stable states going along with the four migration phases.
1) State 0 – Start

2) State 1 – Prepared
3) State 2 – Redirected
4) State 3 – Eliminated
State 0 – Start
With initiating this state, FRS will replicate SYSVOL folder among the domain controllers. It is
important to have up to date copy of SYSVOL before begins the migration process to avoid any
conflicts.
State 1 – Prepared
In this state while FRS continues replicating SYSVOL folder, DFSR will replicate a copy of SYSVOL
folder. It will be located in %SystemRoot%\SYSVOL_DFRS by default. But this SYSVOL will not
response for any other domain controller service requests.
State 2 – Redirected
In this state the DFSR copy of SYSVOL starts to response for SYSVOL service requests. FRS will
continue the replication of its own SYSVOL copy but will not involve with production SYSVOL
replication.
State 3 – Eliminated
In this state, DFS Replication will continue its replication and servicing SYSVOL requests. Windows
will delete original SYSVOL folder users by FRS replication and stop the FRS replication.
In order to migrate from FRS to DFSR its must to go from State 1 to State 3.
Let’s look in to the migration steps.
Prepared State
1. Log in to domain controller as Domain admin or Enterprise Admin

2. Launch powershell console
3. Type dfsrmig /setglobalstate 1 and press enter
4. Type dfsrmig /getmigrationstate to confirm all domain controllers have reached prepared
state
Redirected State

4. Type dfsrmig /getmigrationstate to confirm all domain controllers have reached redirected
state
Eliminated State

4. Type dfsrmig /getmigrationstate to confirm all domain controllers have reached eliminated
state
This completes the migration process and to confirm the SYSVOL share, type net share command
and enter.
Also make sure in each domain controller FRS service is stopped and disabled.
If you have any question regarding the post feel free to email me at rebeladm@live.com
Share and Enjoy:
Posted in Active Directory, MICROSOFT and tagged DFS, DFSR, FRS, FSMO, Migration, Replication,
state, sysvol, Windows 2003 on April 29, 2015. 29 Comments
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29 COMMENTS
Sergey
January 18, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Thank you!

REPLY
daprhboubou
February 4, 2016 at 2:49 pm
hello, how to roll back if an issue occur?

Regards
REPLY
Dishan M. Francis
you can go back to state 0 but not once you processed state 3
REPLY
Rajeshwar Madarapu
March 23, 2016 at 6:27 pm
Thanks a lot… very nice article. I implemented this in my org refering to your article.
REPLY
Egor
June 3, 2016 at 5:38 am
Very Good!!!
Thanks!!!
REPLY
Imran
November 4, 2016 at 4:47 pm
Thank of for the wonderful instructions.

Imran
REPLY
William
November 11, 2016 at 9:06 pm
Muchas gracias…
REPLY
Rok B
November 25, 2016 at 9:37 am
Thank you, easy to follow article!
REPLY
Matt
January 3, 2017 at 9:00 am
Thanks a lot for the detailed procedure.

I'm right in exact case migrating W2003 R2 to W2012 R2. The W2012 R2 server is
joined to W2003 R2 DC, and promo to a DC. Five FSMO roles are transferred to W2012
R2 server as well.
As described the forest function level must set to windows server 2008 or later prior to
proceed with the migration. My question is how could I raise the forest function level to
2008 while the W2003 R2 is still a DC in the forest? If I demote the old 2003 DC,
SYSVOL will be gone too isn't it?
Many thanks
REPLY
Mark Tarquini
January 17, 2017 at 10:23 pm
Excellent, clean instructions. Thanks!
REPLY
Jiten
March 15, 2017 at 3:56 pm
Thanks for the documentation.

Just need one more clarification that we are going to promote from server 2012 to
server 2016( schema updation and O/S updation) however we are using our domain
and forest functional level as Window server 2003. We are updating to server 2008 as
domain and forest level, before that do we need to update SYSVOL Replication to DFSR
as mentioned in this article or once we will update to server 2016 it will also update.
REPLY
sameer mittal
March 28, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Good Explanation !
REPLY
Igor
June 21, 2017 at 8:58 pm
Thank you, Dishan, very helpful guide!
REPLY
Scott Fuller
July 7, 2017 at 2:39 pm
Thank you, very clear instructions and worked exactly as advertised.
REPLY
Chris
July 11, 2017 at 6:10 pm
Is it recommended to perform this procedure after hours? Does this procedure cause
down time at any point? Thanks.
REPLY
Dishan M. Francis
July 15, 2017 at 11:37 pm
No this is will not required any downtime. FRS will be in operation until DFSR
replication is completes accord the domain controllers.
REPLY
iamfromprague
July 27, 2017 at 1:00 pm
What a great explanation. Solved my issue with sysvol replication. I had two DCs –
W2012R2 and 2008R2, each in different site. Forest and domain functional level was
2003R2. I raised both to 2008 and did your steps. Works perfectly so far.
Thanks!
REPLY
Chris.P.
August 1, 2017 at 7:17 am
First Class Step by Step Explanation.

Thank you.
REPLY
Mike Marchione
November 22, 2017 at 1:05 am
Very well done. Step-by-step couldn't have been easier to follow. Worked perfectly.
REPLY
Tony
December 6, 2017 at 4:40 am
So how can you raise the domain and forest level to 2008 or later when 2003 DC is still
in the forest? In my case I just added a 2016 DC to a 2003 domain. How can I transfer
the sysvol and netlogon from 2003 to 2016?
REPLY
R Uthaya Kumar
December 23, 2017 at 6:38 am
Excellent !!!!!!!
REPLY
Dwi noviyanto
Thankksss so much
REPLY
m
Thanks alot, works like charm!
REPLY
Telmo
Is there a downtime while migrating?
REPLY
Dishan M. Francis
No it is not. It is 3 stage migration so when DFS copy is ready it will switch over the
method.
REPLY
Kirill
Thank you! Saved my day!
REPLY
Wess
Very Easy. Thank you!
REPLY
John
April 6, 2018 at 4:29 pm
Excellent article, we have Windows 2012 R2 Dcs and Windows 2008 R2 DCs.
I do not see the SSYSVOL_DFSR folder. Does this mean that we are still using FSR
replication for SYSVOL?
I noticed that that dfsrmig /getmigrationstate list as
Current DFSR global state: ‘start’
Succeeded.
REPLY
John
April 7, 2018 at 8:57 pm
We have Windows 2008 R2 DCs and do not see SYSVOL_DFS folder,

Does this mean that it is still is using FRS?
REPLY
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5/16/2018 Step-by-Step Guide for upgrading SYSVOL replication to DFSR (Distributed File System Replication) - RebelAdmin

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR UPGRADING

1) Log in to domain controller as Domain admin or Enterprise Admin

1) State 0 – Start

Let’s look in to the migration steps.

1. Log in to domain controller as Domain admin or Enterprise Admin

1. Log in to domain controller as Domain admin or Enterprise Admin

1. Log in to domain controller as Domain admin or Enterprise Admin

Share and Enjoy:

← HOW TO CONFIGURE DIRECT ACCESS? – PART 03

hello, how to roll back if an issue occur?

Thank of for the wonderful instructions.

Thank you, easy to follow article!

Thanks a lot for the detailed procedure.

Excellent, clean instructions. Thanks!

Thanks for the documentation.

Thank you, Dishan, very helpful guide!

Thank you, very clear instructions and worked exactly as advertised.

First Class Step by Step Explanation.

Thanks alot, works like charm!

Is there a downtime while migrating?

Thank you! Saved my day!

Very Easy. Thank you!

We have Windows 2008 R2 DCs and do not see SYSVOL_DFS folder,

This visual editor brought to you by fckeditor for wordpress plugin

This is my 14th year in IT. During

Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2016

Step-by-Step Guide to protect Azure VM using Azure Backup

Azure virtual machine scale sets – part 02 – Deploy Application to

Windows Admin Center – Rich Server Management Experience!

Group Policy Security Filtering

PROUDLY POWERED BY WORDPRESS · THEME: SUITS BY THEME WEAVER

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