Transfer logins and passwords between instances of SQL Server

Article
09/06/2024

This article describes how to transfer the logins and the passwords between different instances of SQL Server running on Windows.

Original product version: SQL Server
Original KB number: 918992, 246133

Introduction

This article describes how to transfer the logins and passwords between different instances of Microsoft SQL Server.

Note

The instances might be on the same server or on different servers, and their versions might differ.

More information

In this article, server A and server B are different servers.

After you move a database from the instance of SQL Server on server A to the instance of SQL Server on server B, users might be unable to log in to the database on server B. Additionally, users might receive the following error message:

Login failed for user 'MyUser'. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 18456)

This problem occurs because you didn't transfer the logins and the passwords from the instance of SQL Server on server A to the instance of SQL Server on server B.

Note

The 18456-error message also occurs due to other reasons. For additional information on these causes and potential resolutions, see MSSQLSERVER_18456.

To transfer the logins, use one of the following methods, as appropriate for your situation.

Method 1: Reset the password on the destination SQL Server computer (Server B).

To resolve this issue, reset the password in SQL Server computer, and then script out the login.

Note

The password hashing algorithm is used when you reset the password.

Method 2: Transfer logins and passwords to destination server (Server B) using scripts generated on source server (Server A).

Create stored procedures that will help generate necessary scripts to transfer logins and their passwords. To do so, connect to Server A using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or any other client tool and run the following script:

USE [master]
GO
IF OBJECT_ID('dbo.sp_hexadecimal') IS NOT NULL
    DROP PROCEDURE dbo.sp_hexadecimal
GO
CREATE PROCEDURE dbo.sp_hexadecimal
     @binvalue [varbinary](256)
    ,@hexvalue [nvarchar] (514) OUTPUT
AS
BEGIN
    DECLARE @i [smallint]
    DECLARE @length [smallint]
    DECLARE @hexstring [nchar](16)
    SELECT @hexvalue = N'0x'
    SELECT @i = 1
    SELECT @length = DATALENGTH(@binvalue)
    SELECT @hexstring = N'0123456789ABCDEF'
    WHILE (@i < =  @length)
    BEGIN
        DECLARE @tempint   [smallint]
        DECLARE @firstint  [smallint]
        DECLARE @secondint [smallint]
        SELECT @tempint = CONVERT([smallint], SUBSTRING(@binvalue, @i, 1))
        SELECT @firstint = FLOOR(@tempint / 16)
        SELECT @secondint = @tempint - (@firstint * 16)
        SELECT @hexvalue = @hexvalue
            + SUBSTRING(@hexstring, @firstint  + 1, 1)
            + SUBSTRING(@hexstring, @secondint + 1, 1)
        SELECT @i = @i + 1
    END
END
GO
IF OBJECT_ID('dbo.sp_help_revlogin') IS NOT NULL
    DROP PROCEDURE dbo.sp_help_revlogin
GO
CREATE PROCEDURE dbo.sp_help_revlogin
    @login_name [sysname] = NULL
AS
BEGIN
    DECLARE @name                  [sysname]
    DECLARE @type                  [nvarchar](1)
    DECLARE @hasaccess             [int]
    DECLARE @denylogin             [int]
    DECLARE @is_disabled           [int]
    DECLARE @PWD_varbinary         [varbinary](256)
    DECLARE @PWD_string            [nvarchar](514)
    DECLARE @SID_varbinary         [varbinary](85)
    DECLARE @SID_string            [nvarchar](514)
    DECLARE @tmpstr                [nvarchar](4000)
    DECLARE @is_policy_checked     [nvarchar](3)
    DECLARE @is_expiration_checked [nvarchar](3)
    DECLARE @Prefix                [nvarchar](4000)
    DECLARE @defaultdb             [sysname]
    DECLARE @defaultlanguage       [sysname]
    DECLARE @tmpstrRole            [nvarchar](4000)
    IF @login_name IS NULL
    BEGIN
        DECLARE login_curs CURSOR
        FOR
        SELECT p.[sid],p.[name],p.[type],p.is_disabled,p.default_database_name,l.hasaccess,l.denylogin,default_language_name = ISNULL(p.default_language_name,@@LANGUAGE)
        FROM sys.server_principals p
        LEFT JOIN sys.syslogins l ON l.[name] = p.[name]
        WHERE p.[type] IN ('S' /* SQL_LOGIN */,'G' /* WINDOWS_GROUP */,'U' /* WINDOWS_LOGIN */)
            AND p.[name] <> 'sa'
            AND p.[name] not like '##%'
        ORDER BY p.[name]
    END
    ELSE
        DECLARE login_curs CURSOR
        FOR
        SELECT p.[sid],p.[name],p.[type],p.is_disabled,p.default_database_name,l.hasaccess,l.denylogin,default_language_name = ISNULL(p.default_language_name,@@LANGUAGE)
        FROM sys.server_principals p
        LEFT JOIN sys.syslogins l ON l.[name] = p.[name]
        WHERE p.[type] IN ('S' /* SQL_LOGIN */,'G' /* WINDOWS_GROUP */,'U' /* WINDOWS_LOGIN */)
            AND p.[name] <> 'sa'
            AND p.[name] NOT LIKE '##%'
            AND p.[name] = @login_name
        ORDER BY p.[name]
    OPEN login_curs
    FETCH NEXT FROM login_curs INTO @SID_varbinary,@name,@type,@is_disabled,@defaultdb,@hasaccess,@denylogin,@defaultlanguage
    IF (@@fetch_status = - 1)
    BEGIN
        PRINT '/* No login(s) found for ' + QUOTENAME(@login_name) + N'. */'
        CLOSE login_curs
        DEALLOCATE login_curs
        RETURN - 1
    END
    SET @tmpstr = N'/* sp_help_revlogin script
** Generated ' + CONVERT([nvarchar], GETDATE()) + N' on ' + @@SERVERNAME + N'
*/'
    PRINT @tmpstr
    WHILE (@@fetch_status <> - 1)
    BEGIN
        IF (@@fetch_status <> - 2)
        BEGIN
            PRINT ''
            SET @tmpstr = N'/* Login ' + QUOTENAME(@name) + N' */'
            PRINT @tmpstr
            SET @tmpstr = N'IF NOT EXISTS (
    SELECT 1
    FROM sys.server_principals
    WHERE [name] = N''' + @name + N'''
    )
BEGIN'
            PRINT @tmpstr
            IF @type IN ('G','U') -- NT-authenticated Group/User
            BEGIN -- NT authenticated account/group 
                SET @tmpstr = N'    CREATE LOGIN ' + QUOTENAME(@name) + N'
    FROM WINDOWS
    WITH DEFAULT_DATABASE = ' + QUOTENAME(@defaultdb) + N'
        ,DEFAULT_LANGUAGE = ' + QUOTENAME(@defaultlanguage)
            END
            ELSE
            BEGIN -- SQL Server authentication
                -- obtain password and sid
                SET @PWD_varbinary = CAST(LOGINPROPERTY(@name, 'PasswordHash') AS [varbinary](256))
                EXEC dbo.sp_hexadecimal @PWD_varbinary, @PWD_string OUT
                EXEC dbo.sp_hexadecimal @SID_varbinary, @SID_string OUT
                -- obtain password policy state
                SELECT @is_policy_checked = CASE is_policy_checked WHEN 1 THEN 'ON' WHEN 0 THEN 'OFF' ELSE NULL END
                FROM sys.sql_logins
                WHERE [name] = @name

                SELECT @is_expiration_checked = CASE is_expiration_checked WHEN 1 THEN 'ON' WHEN 0 THEN 'OFF' ELSE NULL END
                FROM sys.sql_logins
                WHERE [name] = @name

                SET @tmpstr = NCHAR(9) + N'CREATE LOGIN ' + QUOTENAME(@name) + N'
    WITH PASSWORD = ' + @PWD_string + N' HASHED
        ,SID = ' + @SID_string + N'
        ,DEFAULT_DATABASE = ' + QUOTENAME(@defaultdb) + N'
        ,DEFAULT_LANGUAGE = ' + QUOTENAME(@defaultlanguage)

                IF @is_policy_checked IS NOT NULL
                BEGIN
                    SET @tmpstr = @tmpstr + N'
        ,CHECK_POLICY = ' + @is_policy_checked
                END

                IF @is_expiration_checked IS NOT NULL
                BEGIN
                    SET @tmpstr = @tmpstr + N'
        ,CHECK_EXPIRATION = ' + @is_expiration_checked
                END
            END
            IF (@denylogin = 1)
            BEGIN -- login is denied access
                SET @tmpstr = @tmpstr
                    + NCHAR(13) + NCHAR(10) + NCHAR(9) + N''
                    + NCHAR(13) + NCHAR(10) + NCHAR(9) + N'DENY CONNECT SQL TO ' + QUOTENAME(@name)
            END
            ELSE IF (@hasaccess = 0)
            BEGIN -- login exists but does not have access
                SET @tmpstr = @tmpstr
                    + NCHAR(13) + NCHAR(10) + NCHAR(9) + N''
                    + NCHAR(13) + NCHAR(10) + NCHAR(9) + N'REVOKE CONNECT SQL TO ' + QUOTENAME(@name)
            END
            IF (@is_disabled = 1)
            BEGIN -- login is disabled
                SET @tmpstr = @tmpstr
                    + NCHAR(13) + NCHAR(10) + NCHAR(9) + N''
                    + NCHAR(13) + NCHAR(10) + NCHAR(9) + N'ALTER LOGIN ' + QUOTENAME(@name) + N' DISABLE'
            END
            SET @Prefix =
                  NCHAR(13) + NCHAR(10) + NCHAR(9) + N''
                + NCHAR(13) + NCHAR(10) + NCHAR(9) + N'EXEC [master].dbo.sp_addsrvrolemember @loginame = N'''
            SET @tmpstrRole = N''
            SELECT @tmpstrRole = @tmpstrRole
                + CASE WHEN sysadmin = 1 THEN @Prefix + LoginName + N''', @rolename = N''sysadmin''' ELSE '' END
                + CASE WHEN securityadmin = 1 THEN @Prefix + LoginName + N''', @rolename = N''securityadmin''' ELSE '' END
                + CASE WHEN serveradmin = 1 THEN @Prefix + LoginName + N''', @rolename = N''serveradmin''' ELSE '' END
                + CASE WHEN setupadmin = 1 THEN @Prefix + LoginName + N''', @rolename = N''setupadmin''' ELSE '' END
                + CASE WHEN processadmin = 1 THEN @Prefix + LoginName + N''', @rolename = N''processadmin''' ELSE '' END
                + CASE WHEN diskadmin = 1 THEN @Prefix + LoginName + N''', @rolename = N''diskadmin''' ELSE '' END
                + CASE WHEN dbcreator = 1 THEN @Prefix + LoginName + N''', @rolename = N''dbcreator''' ELSE '' END
                + CASE WHEN bulkadmin = 1 THEN @Prefix + LoginName + N''', @rolename = N''bulkadmin''' ELSE '' END
            FROM (
                SELECT
                     SUSER_SNAME([sid])AS LoginName
                    ,sysadmin
                    ,securityadmin
                    ,serveradmin
                    ,setupadmin
                    ,processadmin
                    ,diskadmin
                    ,dbcreator
                    ,bulkadmin
                FROM sys.syslogins
                WHERE (    sysadmin <> 0
                        OR securityadmin <> 0
                        OR serveradmin <> 0
                        OR setupadmin <> 0
                        OR processadmin <> 0
                        OR diskadmin <> 0
                        OR dbcreator <> 0
                        OR bulkadmin <> 0
                        )
                    AND [name] = @name
                ) L
            IF @tmpstr <> '' PRINT @tmpstr
            IF @tmpstrRole <> '' PRINT @tmpstrRole
            PRINT 'END'
        END
        FETCH NEXT FROM login_curs INTO @SID_varbinary,@name,@type,@is_disabled,@defaultdb,@hasaccess,@denylogin,@defaultlanguage
    END
    CLOSE login_curs
    DEALLOCATE login_curs
    RETURN 0
END

Note

This script creates two stored procedures in the master database. The procedures are named sp_hexadecimal and sp_help_revlogin.

In the SSMS query editor, select the Results to Text option.
Run the following statement in the same or a new query window:
```
EXEC sp_help_revlogin
```
The output script that the sp_help_revlogin stored procedure generates is the login script. This login script creates the logins that have the original Security Identifier (SID) and the original password.

Important

Review the information in the following Remarks section before you proceed with implementing steps on the destination server.

Steps on the destination server (Server B)

Connect to Server B using any client tool (like SSMS) and then run the script generated in step 4 (output of sp_helprevlogin) from Server A.

Remarks

Review the following information before you run the output script on the instance on server B:

A password can be hashed in the following ways:
- VERSION_SHA1: This hash is generated by using the SHA1 algorithm and is used in SQL Server 2000 through SQL Server 2008 R2.
- VERSION_SHA2: This hash is generated by using the SHA2 512 algorithm and is used in SQL Server 2012 and later versions.
Review the output script carefully. If server A and server B are in different domains, you have to change the output script. Then, you have to replace the original domain name by using the new domain name in the CREATE LOGIN statements. The integrated logins that are granted access in the new domain don't have the same SID as the logins in the original domain. Therefore, users are orphaned from these logins. For more information about how to resolve these orphaned users, see Troubleshoot orphaned users (SQL Server) and ALTER USER.
If server A and server B are in the same domain, the same SID is used. Therefore, users are unlikely to be orphaned.
In the output script, the logins are created by using the encrypted password. This is because of the HASHED argument in the CREATE LOGIN statement. This argument specifies that the password that is entered after the PASSWORD argument is already hashed.
By default, only a member of the sysadmin fixed server role can run a SELECT statement from the sys.server_principals view. Unless a member of the sysadmin fixed server role grants the necessary permissions to the users, the users can't create or run the output script.
The steps in this article don't transfer the default database information for a particular login. This is because the default database might not always exist on server B. To define the default database for a login, use the ALTER LOGIN statement by passing in the login name and the default database as arguments.
Sort orders on source and destination servers:
- Case-insensitive server A and case-sensitive server B: The sort order of server A might be case-insensitive, and the sort order of server B might be case-sensitive. In this case, users must type the passwords in all uppercase letters after you transfer the logins and the passwords to the instance on server B.
- Case-sensitive server A and case-insensitive server B: The sort order of server A might be case-sensitive, and the sort order of server B might be case-insensitive. In this case, users can't log in by using the logins and the passwords that you transfer to the instance on server B unless one of the following conditions is true:
  - The original passwords contain no letters.
  - All letters in the original passwords are uppercase letters.
- Case-sensitive or case-insensitive on both servers: The sort order of both server A and server B might be case-sensitive, or the sort order of both server A and server B might be case-insensitive. In these cases, the users don't experience a problem.
A login that's already in the instance on server B might have a name that's the same as a name in the output script. In this case, you receive the following error message when you run the output script on the instance on server B:

Msg 15025, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
The server principal 'MyLogin' already exists.

Similarly, a login that already is in the instance on server B might have a SID that's the same as a SID in the output script. In this case, you receive the following error message when you run the output script on the instance on server B:

Msg 15433, Level 16, State 1, Line 1 Supplied parameter sid is in use.

Therefore, you must do the following:
1. Review the output script carefully.
2. Examine the contents of the sys.server_principals view in the instance on server B.
3. Address these error messages as appropriate.
  
  In SQL Server 2005, the SID for a login is used to implement database-level access. A login might have different SIDs in different databases on a server. In this case, the login can only access the database that has the SID that matches the SID in the sys.server_principals view. This problem might occur if the two databases are combined from different servers. To resolve this problem, manually remove the login from the database that has a SID mismatch by using the DROP USER statement. Then, add the login again by using the CREATE USER statement.

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Transfer logins and passwords between instances of SQL Server

Introduction

More information

Steps on the destination server (Server B)

Remarks

References

Feedback

Additional resources