In order to proceed with an FRS to DFSR SYSVOL migration, the forest function level must be first configured on your Windows server. If your organization has not done this yet, you must first get the forest and domain function level updated.
You can verify if the system uses the FRS using dfsrmig /getglobalstate.
1) Log in to domain controller as Domain admin or Enterprise Admin
2) Launch powershell console and type dfsrmig /getglobalstate.
Below output confirms that it has not yet initiated the DFRS migration yet.
Before proceeding with any configuration changes, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the migration stage.
Below are are four states that correspond 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 the SYSVOL folder amongst the domain controllers. It is important to have a current copy of SYSVOL before begins the migration process to avoid any conflicts.
State 1 – Prepared
In this state, FRS continues replicating the SYSVOL folder while DFSR will replicate a copy of SYSVOL folder. It will be located in %SystemRoot%\SYSVOL_DFRS by default. But this SYSVOL will not respond to any other domain controller service requests.
State 2 – Redirected
In this state, the DFSR copy of SYSVOL starts to respond 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 it must to go from State 1 to State 3. Let’s look into the migration steps in more detail.
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 the prepared state
Log in to domain controller as Domain admin or Enterprise Admin
2. Launch PowerShell console
3. Type dfsrmig /setglobalstate2 and press enter
4. Type dfsrmig /getmigrationstate to confirm all domain controllers have reached redirected state
Log in to domain controller as Domain admin or Enterprise Admin
2. Launch powershell console
3. Type dfsrmig /setglobalstate 3and press enter
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 press enter.
Also make sure in each domain controller FRS service is stopped and disabled.
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Date Published: June 15, 2021
