How do I… Transfer logins from one SQL Server 2005 instance to another SQL Server 2005 instance?

By Steven Warren

This gallery is also available as a TechRepublic blog post and download.

In my last How do I…, I discussed how to restore a SQL Server to a new server. After the article published, I had some questions on the best way to move SQL Server logins from one SQL Server 2005 instance to another SQL Server 2005 instance.

I want to preface that you can move logins from one SQL Server to another SQL Server in many different ways. In my experience, I have found that this is the easiest way to move logins from one SQL Server to another SQL Server while keep existing passwords.

We will begin by downloading a script called Sp_Help_RevLogin.

Note: If you are transferring logins from SQL Server 2000 to SQL Server 2005, download this script.

Next, navigate to Start | All Programs | Microsoft SQL Server 2005 | SQL Server Management Studio. Simply highlight and copy the script from the link provided and paste into SQL Server Management Studio as shown.

Note: When you first open SQL Server Management Studio, you must click New Query, and select the Master database prior to pasting the script and clicking Execute.

Move SQL Server logins

We still have the final task of resolving permissions. When you move a database from one server to another server that is running SQL Server, a mismatch happens between the SIDs (security identifier numbers). The sp_change_users_login can fix the issue.

Open SQL Server Management studio and run the script as shown. The accompanying image displays how Listing B will look in SQL Server Management Studio.

Listing B
DECLARE @UserName nvarchar(255)
DECLARE Cursor_OrphanedUser cursor for
SELECT NAME FROM sysusers WHERE issqluser = 1 and (sid is not null and sid <> 0x01) and suser_sname(sid) is NOT null ORDER BY name
OPEN Cursor_OrphanedUser
FETCH NEXT FROM Cursor_OrphanedUser INTO @UserName
WHILE (@@fetch_status = 0)
BEGIN
PRINT @UserName ‘ Synchronization of Logins in Progress’
EXEC sp_change_users_login ‘Update_one’, @UserName, @UserName
FETCH NEXT FROM Cursor_OrphanedUser INTO @UserName
END
CLOSE Cursor_OrphanedUser
DEALLOCATE Cursor_OrphanedUser
Go

Run this script on each database for which you have to synchronize logins. Once you have finished running this script on each database, you have successfully moved SQL Server logins from one server to another.