Question

Contoso runs a single Entra Connect Sync server (Server A) that has been synchronizing on-premises Active Directory to Microsoft Entra ID for two years. The hardware is being decommissioned, so the identity team builds a new server (Server B) with the latest Entra Connect version. They want to migrate synchronization to Server B with minimal risk and the ability to verify configuration before it becomes authoritative. What should the team do?

Accepted Answer

Install Entra Connect on Server B in staging mode, allow it to import and preview synchronization, then verify results before switching Server A to staging mode and enabling Server B as active.

Answer

Uninstall Entra Connect from Server A first, then install and activate Entra Connect on Server B so only one active sync engine exists at any time.

Answer

Install Entra Connect on Server B as active immediately while leaving Server A active, so both servers export changes and provide redundancy.

Answer

Install Cloud Sync provisioning agents on Server B and disable Server A, allowing Cloud Sync to take over the existing Connect Sync configuration automatically.