Common Migrations - Domain to Domain

This help topic covers a common migration scenario end-to-end. It should be read carefully as it may not apply to your environment.

If this is your first migration with Alter-Ego we highly recommend you begin by reading the Getting Started guide.

This scenario covers a migration from domain to domain where domain controllers for both domains are accessible to the client PCs. It assumes all PCs and user profiles in the source domain will be merged into the destination domain. This could be used as part of a merger between two domains or any transition from one domain to another where all computers and users exist in the same domain.

To begin, all source domain users must have user accounts in the destination domain. If these accounts do not already exist, create them now.
If you wish to specify all source and destination user accounts, create a comma-separated values (CSV) file listing the computer name,source user name,destination user name for each computer and user in the source workgroup. If you wish to migrate multiple user profiles on a given PC, repeat the computer name for each source and destination user pair. This file will be used to import the target computers and users in step #. If the source and destination usernames are identical and you wish to attempt to migrate all user profiles on each PC, this step is not required.
If the client PCs are running the Windows Firewall or a similar software or hardware firewall, it must be configured to allow access to file sharing and the Alter-Ego network notification port. For the Windows Firewall, this can easily be done as part of a Group Policy in the source and destination domains. Please see the firewall help topic for more information.
It is highly recommended that all client PCs are logged off before beginning. The clients will reboot as part of the migration process, so work may be lost if the target PCs are in use.
Launch Alter-Ego on the console computer.
Click the Begin a new migration with the "Easy Setup Wizard" button.
The Easy Setup Wizard introduction screen is shown. Click Next.
Choose Profile Migration + Domain Change and click Next.
Select Domain A profiles -> Domain B profiles. Click Next.
The next Easy Setup Wizard question pertains to the source and destination security context of the user profiles. In the Source Context field, enter the name of the source domain. Enter the name of a domain controller (DC) in the source domain in the Source DC Name field, and its IP address in the Source DC IP field. Enter the corresponding information about the destination domain and a destination DC in the destination fields. Both of these DCs must be accessible to all clients during the migration. Click the Next button.
The Easy Setup Wizard now prompts for information about the domain which the client PCs will join. As this is the same domain as the user accounts, it is already populated with the domain name, DC name, and DC IP from the previous question. Simply click Next.
The options displayed on this tab relate to the way in which the migrations will be carried out. The first options are greyed out as they are required for a domain join. We recommend that all options are accepted with the default selections. Click Next.
You are now prompted to select a method of importing the target computers. Click the Import from Active Directory... button.
Enter the name of a source domain DC in the Server Name field. Complete the Username, Password, and Domain fields with an account in the source domain with permission to read from the Active Directory. If you wish to attempt an All Profiles migration, click the Migrate all user profiles.
Click Import Now to start the import process. Depending on the size of the domain, this may take a few minutes. If any errors or warnings are encountered, a window will be displayed which lists the relevant messages. Correct the errors and try the import again. If the import is successful, a success message will be displayed. Click OK to continue.
If you created a user file in step 2, click the Import from file... button. Choose CN,SU,DU then enter the path to the CSV file or click the Browse... button to locate it. Click Import Now to begin the import. A message will be displayed indicating if the import was successful.
Click Next to proceed to the next Easy Setup Wizard question.
Click the Authentication Wizard button to start the Authentication Wizard which you will use to set the authentication roles.
Choose Yes to indicate that all source computer and user accounts are in the same domain, then click Next.
Choose Yes to indicate that all destination computer and user accounts will be in the same domain, then click Next.
Choose Domain admin accounts with local admin access and click Next
You are then prompted for a domain administrator account in the source domain which has local administrative access on all PCs that will be migrated. Enter the username, password, and domain for the domain administrator account and click Next.
Next you must enter a domain administrator account in the destination domain. Enter the username, password, and domain for the domain administrator account and click Next.
Click the Finish button to close the Authentication Wizard.
Click the Next button to proceed to the end of the Easy Setup Wizard.
Click the Finish button to close the Easy Setup Wizard and return to the console window. You will now see the computers from your workgroup listed in the computer pane on the left.
If the client PCs are separated from the console PC by a firewall or router, or you have some other reason to believe that some network traffic between the console and clients may be blocked, you should perform a network test with at least one of the client PCs to verify network connectivity.
When you are ready to begin, click Tools -> Start Migration... or press F9.
Verify the network settings information which is displayed. If it is correct, press Yes to begin the migration.
The Progress Log window will appear in the right-hand pane and will begin updating the status as each client computer is contacted, loaded with the Alter-Ego client services, the migration takes place, and the client is unloaded. While this occurs, the color of each of the computers in the computer pane will also update to reflect its current status.
If you wish to view the log of a particular client PC, such as in the event of an error (red) or warning (orange), right-click on the computer in the computer pane and choose Open Newest Client Log. To view the console log, click View -> Handler Log. The logs will open in your default text editor.
You will receive a pop-up message once the migration is complete. Acknowledge it by clicking OK. You can now review the progress log and the computer pane for warnings and errors. Once you are finished, click the Done button to revert the Alter-Ego console back to normal operation. Your migration is complete.