[Dynamics] Move AX 2012 to a different Server / Domain

As you probably know Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2/R3 does not have a redeployment utility (like the Dynamics CRM deployment manager) meaning that if you want to move an AX Deployment from one domain to another – you’ll have to get your hands a little dirty.

Some important notes before we start :

• You can use these steps also in AX 2012 – Just ignore the Modelstore database.
• You can also use these steps to move a deployment in the same domain – ignore step 4.
• You need to make sure that the AX installation version in the new server matches the installation
• on the previous server.
• I’m assuming that you have the basic required knowledge in SQL Server, your Windows Serverenvironments and of course some AX 2012 architecture understanding to do these steps

Let’s go:

1. Open the SQL management studio and Backup your AX Databases [BusinessData Database + Modelstore Database]
   - for example: AXProd + AXProd_model
2. Stop the AX Service on the new server and restore the databases in the new SQL server – You can restore them with different names just remember that they have to match
   – for example: AXProdNEW + AXProdNEW_model.
3. In the SQL management studio run the following queries on the BusinessData Database (AXProdNEW):
   DELETE FROM SYSSERVERCONFIG;
   DELETE FROM SYSSERVERCONFIG;
   DELETE FROM BATCHSERVERCONFIG;
   - This will delete the batch server properties of the previous server – You should do this if the redeployment is in the same domain because the old server might be reachable by the new one and may use it as a batch server.
   
   DELETE FROM SYSEMAILPARAMETERS;
   - This will delete the SMTP server parameters for sending emails
   - This will delete the AOSID & SERVERID of the previous installation and will repopulate the tables with the new server name when the AX service on the new server is started.
   Also consider running:
   
   DELETE FROM SRSSERVERS;
   - This will clear the Reporting Services properties form – you will need to reconfigure this later if you want to redeploy the reports.
   
   DELETE FROM BATCHSERVERGROUP
4. Now you need to configure your user in the AX Database in the new domain (You can skip this step if you re-deployed AX in the same domain).
   Open CMD with “Run as admin” and type:
   wmic useraccount where (name='your_windows_username' and domain='your_domain') get name,sid
   Example: wmic useraccount where (name='administrator' and domain='contoso') get name,sid
   Copy the SID to notepad.
   
   In the SQL management studio run the following query on the BusinessData Database (AXProdNEW):
   UPDATE USERINFO
   SET SID='your_sid', NETWORKALIAS='your_windows_username', NETWORKDOMAIN='your_domain', NAME='your_full_name'
   WHERE ID = 'Admin';
   
   Example:
     UPDATE USERINFO
     SET SID='S-1-5-21-916693446-2822637979-541647007-1001', NETWORKALIAS='administrator', NETWORKDOMAIN='contoso', NAME='John TheAdmin'
     WHERE ID = 'Admin';
   - This will replace the AX Admin user to your user – you can modify this query to replace other users as well, or you can later add new users from the AX GUI.
5. Grant the AX AOS account permissions over the databases as follows:
   AXProdNEW:
     db_datareader
     db_datawriter
     db_ddladmin
     public
   AXProdNEW_model:
     public
   
   You can identify the AOS account by going to the services on the application server (start-> services.msc) and check the Log On tab:
   If you are using NETWORK SERVICES as the service account you will need to grant permissions to the machine$ account – Use the following query to do it.
   CREATE LOGIN [Domain\axservername$] FROM WINDOWS
6. All done! Go to services on the application server and start the Microsoft Dynamics AX Service – it might take a few minutes for it to start. Once it’s running – you can start the application.
   If you have any issues starting the service check the server’s event log for clues, and if you have any questions – feel free to post them here and i will do my best to help you out.

Further optional steps:

1. You should synchronize your Database to make sure everything is working properly.
2. If you want to deploy your reports – you need to fill the Report Servers form and then run the following command from the Dynamics AX 2012 management Shell:
   Publish-AXReport –ReportName *