Hello everyone,

Due to a hosting issue, I need to copy local users and groups from one server 2008 R2 to another in a different hosting company. Please note that those servers are not part of a forest or domain.

Both are registered on their own (i.e Workgroup). So the Migration Tools suite does not apply for my case.

Any ideas or suggestions will save my life and will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Hello sep2674,
if you take a look at these:

• TechNet Library Windows Server Migration Tools Installation, Access, and Removal
• TechNet Library Windows Server Migration Tools and Guides
• TechNet Library Local User and Group Migration Guide

...there isn't any reference to Domain or Workgroup; it speaks about "Permissions requirements" so, you should be able to perform your request. Did you already try ?

If not, then I suggest to create a PowerShell script that export Local Users and Groups (e.g. to *.csv file) and import to the other server.

Bye,
Luca

Hi Jimmy,

You are right about the Migration Tools, they only work for domain objects.

In your case, local users and groups belong to workgroup, so they have to be managed on the local computer, with local administrative credentials.

The only way to change a hosting computer for your users and groups is to re-create all the objects on the destination computer.

I recommend you to create a domain to get centralized management for your organization.

Please refer to the following links to see the differences between workgroup and domain:

WHAT IS DOMAIN AND DIFFERENT BETWEEN WORKGROUP?

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/7869dbc4-57d5-487d-8bc1-2eb9d7c4a6ab/what-is-domain-and-different-between-workgroup

Domain vs. Workgroup

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/sqlserver/en-US/f04d1617-8ea1-48ab-af46-24fc5176be83/domain-vs-workgroup

Workgroup and domain considerations

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd897048.aspx

Best Regards,

Amy Wang