Migrating to a new OD master?

Question

Hello all,
We currently have a G5 Xserve running OS X Server 10.4.11. This is our main server: it is our OD master, it has networked home directories, and various share points for different groups in our office. We will be replacing this with a new Intel Xserve, presumably running OS X Server 10.5.4. Obviously, I am looking for the most painless (or perhaps least painful) method of migrating not just our data, but user accounts, OD settings, and other necessary items. I have been finding a fair amount of information about migrating plist files directly from Server Admin, which seems like a good way to do it. One interesting thing I came across was this:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=937764&tstart=180
The idea is to set up the new server as an OD replica of the current one, and once it finishes setting up, turn off OD on the old server, then set the new one to be the OD master. Will this work? If so, what will it transfer - usernames, groups, user information, and passwords? It just seems too... simple, particularly when compared to what is laid out in Apple's migration guide.
If not, what would people recommend as the best method of getting user data, particularly passwords, to the new server? I would really prefer to not have to have 40+ people redo their passwords, particularly since 10 or so of them work offsite. Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi Matt
Yes it should work? Provided Master and Replica are exactly the same versions of the OS of course. However you still have the same problem! Irony on top of irony? What an OD Replica does is it keeps a copy of everything to do with the LDAP Database read from the OD Master. Of course the Replica will have to have a different IP Address. If you want it to keep the same address then you are talking about a failover. Which is something quite different.
As extra insurance - because you never know - you could export all users and groups, as well as archiving the LDAP database. You should be aiming to do this on a regular basis anyway just in case. So far when restoring an LDAP database (which retains everything) from a 10.4 Server to 10.5 I've had problems. However there may probably be just as many who have had no problems at all?
Another way of transferring users/groups and passwords is to use Passenger:
http://www.brothersoft.com/passenger-download-87655.html
If time and money is not an issue then its worthwhile to have as many 'failsafes' as possible (drives are cheap after all), especially if your preferred option of OD Master/Replica Demotion/Promotion does not work. If it was me and provided I had an up-to-date and working bootable copy of the server you could:
(a) Go for an 'old fashioned' update - you never know it might just work!
(b) Try the OD Master/Replica option
You could get lucky here because you may be able to get hold of 10.4.10 or even 10.4.11 server and install that on your new XServe. If not you will have to buy another copy of 10.5 Server. However you still have the original problem.
(c) Export users and groups from your current OD Master either using the WGM or Passenger
(d) build your new OD Master (10.5) from scratch on a standalone network (just a switch, the xserve and nothing else)
(e) When you are happy transfer user home folders and data
Test the new OD Master thoroughly before switching off the old one. Re-introduce the new one when you're happy. You may find these posts useful?:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=7602817&#7602817
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=7067404&#7067404
It'll be interesting to see what experiences others have had?
Tony