Home Directory change for 700 users

[Bigtm]

Hello, I need to slot in a new file server and transfer the home directories for 700 users. I have used robocopy and replicated home folders and folder permissions without any probs.

Within every AD user profile/account I have specified the z: drive as the home folder, for example z: is \\fileserver1\%username%$. The new file server will not replace the old and has it's own unique name and ip address. My question is this: How do I edit the path of the z: drive in the user profiles without having to manually change 700 acounts to point to \\staffserver2\%username%$.

I have .bat file running on logon which I could also use but it doesnt change the fact that I would need to go into every user account and either edit the path to z: drive or delete it.

Any ideas?

Kind Regards,
BigTM.

 

[lhuegele]

Why don't you just map your old server to the y: drive, and make your new server map to the Z: drive so you don't have to change anything in AD?

Good luck,

 

[Bigtm]

Hello, It's still not the solution I would have hoped to use. I guess I need if possible the best method to retain the z: drive mapping and point it to the new server. Hope this makes sense.

BigTM.

 

[kmcferrin]

There's really only two ways to do this:

1. Make sure that the new server has the name of the old server, and then give the old server a new name. That way the path doesn't change even though the hardware does. This will likely cause other issues.

2. Change the home directory for all 700 users. You can do this manually or you can write a script that connects via ADSI and changes it for you.

Either way, I would highly recommend creating a DNS alias for the new server called something like "HOME", and then changing the path in the user profiles to \\home\%username%$. That way if you have to replace the server again you just have to point the "HOME" alias to the new server.

 

[Bigtm]

Thank you, Is there a script you know I could use? Could you point me in the right direction?

Kind Regards,
BigTM.

 

[Davetoo]

If you've already copied the data but haven't pointed the users to the new server, when you do, it won't be the most recent data. You need to point first, then copy the data.

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