Which approach should you take when migrating an IIS box with user accounts?

by Erik "Eckel Network+, MCP+I, MCSE" | Feb 23, 2000 8:00:00 AM

Tags: Erik Eckel Network+, MCP+I, MCSE

Takeaway: TechRepublic reader Signal6x hit the AdminRepublic Forums seeking advice on migrating IIS services and user accounts to a new computer. Check out the suggestions posted by another reader.

Have you ever needed to migrate users and IIS services to a new server? When TechRepublic reader Signal6x was facing that task, step one was to spin by TechRepublic’s Forums for some advice.

Was that the right thing to do? You betcha!

Hogan, another TechRepublic reader, jumped in and suggested several options.

The problem
Here’s the question Signal6x posted with a value of 150 points:

I am building an IIS 4 box to replace an older one. Both are member servers, and the user accounts are local to the machine. Is it possible to move the user accounts from the old machine to the new one?

The solution
Hogan was kind enough to provide the following comments:

Yes. Here are several ways. The tiresome method is to use the NET command [localgroup, etc.] to view info and pipe it to a file [data collection]. You can then create scripts to add the users, groups, etc., to the new box.

But there’s a better method. Look at products such as HYENA. It will support copying local users and creating the local groups on demand.

You may also want to move to DOMAIN\<user> or group privileges. If you are going to be creating more of these, it will centralize administration, but if it’s just this one server, I'd opt for HYENA.
If you’ve got a problem that’s been nagging you, or you think you’ve picked up a few pointers that could help others, surf on over to TechRepublic’s Forums. In addition to helping your colleagues solve vexing issues, you’ll receive TechPoints for your efforts. You can find the Forums here .
Have you ever needed to migrate users and IIS services to a new server? When TechRepublic reader Signal6x was facing that task, step one was to spin by TechRepublic’s Forums for some advice.

Was that the right thing to do? You betcha!

Hogan, another TechRepublic reader, jumped in and suggested several options.

The problem
Here’s the question Signal6x posted with a value of 150 points:

I am building an IIS 4 box to replace an older one. Both are member servers, and the user accounts are local to the machine. Is it possible to move the user accounts from the old machine to the new one?

The solution
Hogan was kind enough to provide the following comments:

Yes. Here are several ways. The tiresome method is to use the NET command [localgroup, etc.] to view info and pipe it to a file [data collection]. You can then create scripts to add the users, groups, etc., to the new box.

But there’s a better method. Look at products such as HYENA. It will support copying local users and creating the local groups on demand.

You may also want to move to DOMAIN\<user> or group privileges. If you are going to be creating more of these, it will centralize administration, but if it’s just this one server, I'd opt for HYENA.
If you’ve got a problem that’s been nagging you, or you think you’ve picked up a few pointers that could help others, surf on over to TechRepublic’s Forums. In addition to helping your colleagues solve vexing issues, you’ll receive TechPoints for your efforts. You can find the Forums here .