Migrate SYSVOL from FRS to DFS

Question

I'm in the process of migrating a 2012 Standard server to a 2022 server and got the following error when promoting the 2022 server, "Still using FRS which is deprecated, you must migrate SYSVOL to DFS Replication".

Found instructions here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/dfs-replication/migrate-sysvol-to-dfsr?redirectedfrom=MSDN

Anyway, before I embark on this has anybody done it on a 2012 DC and had problems? Also, I have no idea why 2012 is using FRS as in the above article they say 2008 and above went to DFS. I did migrate the 2012 server 11 years ago from something else, I don't remember what, so that might be why. I suppose it doesn't matter as it is FRS now so I need to deal with it.

Answer 1

Hello

Yes, migrating from FRS to DFS Replication is a common process when upgrading domain controllers from older versions of Windows Server to newer versions. Windows Server 2008 and later versions use DFS Replication for SYSVOL replication, while earlier versions use FRS. If your domain was originally created with an earlier version of Windows Server and was later upgraded, it’s possible that it is still using FRS for SYSVOL replication.

Microsoft provides a detailed guide on how to migrate SYSVOL replication from FRS to DFS Replication . The guide includes information on the migration procedure, troubleshooting, and rolling back the migration if necessary. It’s important to carefully read and follow the instructions in the guide to ensure a successful migration.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/dfs-replication/migrate-sysvol-to-dfsr

While the migration process is generally straightforward, there have been reports of issues that can occur during the migration. For example, after starting a SYSVOL migration from FRS to DFSR, no domain controllers enter the Prepared phase and remain stuck at Preparing . However, these issues can usually be resolved by following the troubleshooting steps provided in the guide .

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-server/group-policy/dfsr-sysvol-fails-migrate-replicate

It’s always a good idea to make sure you have a backup of your data before making any changes to your system.