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Join computers to the new Windows SBS 2011 Essentials network

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Published: March 10, 2011

Updated: May 12, 2011

Applies To: Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials

The next step of the migration process is to join client computers to the new Windows SBS 2011 Essentials network and update Group Policy settings.

Domain-joined client computers

On each domain-joined client computer, the previously installed deployment software must be removed and reinstalled from the Destination Server. For domain-joined client computers, you can run the client connector software by using any account that has administrator privileges on the computer. This is safe to do while in migration mode because the client connecter will not migrate the local profile of the user to the domain profile when it rejoins the domain. If you use administrator privileges, you will receive a warning to not rejoin the domain. Ignore this warning and proceed with the uninstall wizard.

To remove the Windows Server Connector

  1. Sign out of Launchpad.

Note

If more than one user is logged on to Launchpad on the computer, you must sign out for each user session.

  1. Click Start, click Control Panel, click Programs, and then click Uninstall a Program.

  2. Find the Windows Server Connector in the list, and then click Uninstall.

After the Windows Server Connector is uninstalled, browse to https://destination-server/connect and install the Windows Server Connector software as if this was a new computer. The installation process is the same for domain joined or non-domain joined clients.

Non-domain joined client computers

On each non-domain joined client computer, the previously installed deployment software must be removed and reinstalled from the Destination Server.

To remove the Windows Server Connector

  1. Sign out of Launchpad.

Note

If more than one user is logged on to Launchpad on the computer, you must sign out for each user session.

  1. Click Start, click Control Panel, click Programs, and then click Uninstall a Program.

  2. Find the Windows Server Connector in the list, and click Uninstall.

After the Windows Server Connector is uninstalled, browse to https://destination-server/connect and install the Windows Server Connector software as if this was a new computer. The installation process is the same for domain joined or non-domain joined clients.

Ensure Group Policy has updated

Note

This is an optional step, and it is only required if the Source Server was configured with custom Group Policy settings such as Folder Redirection.

While the Source Server and the Destination Server are still online, you should ensure that the Group Policy settings have replicated from the Destination Server to the client computers. Perform the following steps on each client computer:

  1. Open a Command Prompt window.

  2. At the command prompt, type GPRESULT /R, and then press ENTER.

  3. Review the resulting output for the section “Group Policy was applied from:” and ensure it lists the Destination Server, such as DestinationSrv.Domain.local. For example:

    USER SETTINGS
--------------
    CN=User,OU=Users,DC=DOMAIN,DC=Local
    Last time Group Policy was applied: 1/24/2011 at 1:26:27 PM
    Group Policy was applied from:      DestinationSrv.Domain.local
    Group Policy slow link threshold:   500 kbps
    Domain Name:                        Domain
    Domain Type:                        Windows 2003

  4. If the Destination Server is not listed, at a command prompt, type gpupdate /force, and then press ENTER to refresh the Group Policy settings. Then perform the previous procedure again.

  5. If the Destination Server still does not appear, there may be an error in the Group Policy settings or an error in applying them to this specific client computer. If the Destination Server does not appear, perform the following steps:

    1. Click Start, click Run, type rsop.msc (Resultant Set of Policy), and then press ENTER.

    2. Expand the tree with the “X” on it until you get to a node.

    3. Right-click the node, and click View Error for information about why the Group Policy settings are failing on the computer listed.

Next topic: Move settings and data to the Destination Server for Windows SBS 2011 Essentials migration

Previous topic: Import users and the Destination Server into the Dashboard for Windows SBS 2011 Essentials migration