Microsoft File Server Migration Toolkit 1.2 Available

Microsoft has released a new version of its toolset designed to help administrators migrate shared folders between servers running Windows operating systems. Microsoft File Server Migration Toolkit 1.2 went live in June 2009, and is currently up for grabs via the Microsoft Download Center. Making use of the Distributed File System (DFS), the File Server Migration Toolkit is capable of maintaining Universal Naming Convention (UNC) paths. In this manner, admins will be able to enjoy a simplified consolidation and migration process, the software giant promised.

“Microsoft released the File Server Migration Toolkit version 1.2 (FSMT 1.2), which will help you migrate file shares from computers running Windows NT 4.0 Server, Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2003 Server, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Storage Server 2008 to computers running Windows 2003 Server, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Storage Server 2008. You can use it to consolidate multiple file servers or simply to migrate files between servers,” revealed Jose Barreto, Principal Program Manager with the File Server Foundation Team.

Barreto explained that with the release of version 1.2 of the File Server Migration Toolkit, the company managed to provide a fix for a problem that affected migrations involving Windows Server 2003 clusters. At the same time, the software giant is gearing up for the next iteration of the Windows Sever platform. In this regard, Microsoft File Server Migration Toolkit 1.2 has also been tested on the successor of Windows Server 2008, namely Windows Server 2008 R2 in the Release Candidate stage. However, the Redmond-based company will only introduce full support for Windows Server 2008 R2 once the operating system is launched, October 22, 2009.

“Here are the main benefits of FSMT: Simplifies the complex and error-prone migration process of SMB shares and data. Maintains UNC paths and eliminates broken shortcuts and links. Maintains security settings after the migration. Consolidates shared folders with the same names from different servers. Supports server clusters as source and target file servers. Provides roll-back functionality. Support for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Storage Server 2008. Includes both the DFS Consolidation Root Wizard and the Dfsconsolidate.exe command-line tool. Available in 5 languages (English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish),” Barreto added.

Microsoft File Server Migration Toolkit 1.2 is available for download here.