What is active directory and why are we making changes to it?

Active Directory is the central repository that governs the way employees log into their computers and access files and emails. UIS currently maintains multiple active directories, and this project will condense them into a single directory running the latest software from Microsoft. This increases the efficiency, scalability and supportability of our active directory services.

This initiative also includes an upgrade of the Exchange email service provided to System Administration employees. Along with the active directory work, this upgrade lays the groundwork for displaying free/busy calendar information between CU and the campuses. This also positions our division for a future release of Skype for Business (formerly known as Microsoft Lync), a next generation instant messaging tool.

How is our domain changing?

The current phase of this project is moving user and computer accounts from our old domain - ad.cusys.edu - to our new domain - ad.cu.edu.

What does the upgrade of our email system entail?

As part of this process, we are upgrading our email system to Exchange 2013. Your email address is not changing, and all of your mail items (emails, calendars and contacts) will be migrated along with your account.

Note for PC users: Some of your customizations within the Outlook 2010 or Outlook 2013 client will not be carried over as part of this transition. This includes:

  • AutoComplete email addresses - the addresses that automatically populate when you type an address in the 'To:' field
  • Shared calendars
  • Calendar groups
  • Outlook ribbon customizations
  • Email category colors
  • Email inbox rules

See our FAQ section below for more specific information on those customizations that must be reconfigured after your mailbox is migrated.

When is my department migrating to the new active directory domain?

The UIS Service Desk has coordinated with your departmental leadership to schedule your migration at a specific date and time. Prior to your scheduled migration, you will receive a communication from your department leadership containing a high level overview of the migration process - this will include what steps you need to take prior to your department's migration, and what to expect following.

What we need from you prior to your scheduled migration:

In order to ensure that your computer and email are migrated to our new domain successfully, we ask that you ensure the following before leaving for the day on the date of your department's migration:

  • Log off of your computer
  • Leave your computer powered on and sitting at the Windows user login screen
  • If you have a laptop, please ensure it is docked. If you do not have access to a docking station, please ensure your laptop is plugged in to a wired network cable and has a power charger connected.

Note: Your laptop must be connected to a physical network cable - connection to our wireless network is not sufficient for your workstation to be migrated. If you are not able to meet this requirements, please contact the UIS Service Desk for assistance.

What to expect following your scheduled migration:

On the morning following your migration, a team of UIS Service Desk employees will be standing by to assist you in the final steps of your migration. This includes:

  • Assisting you in signing in to your computer
  • Updating your Outlook 2010 or Outlook 2013 clients to point to your new Exchange 2013 mailbox
  • Assisting you in adding shared calendars and other Outlook configuration items
  • Updating the email configuration settings on your mobile devices (smartphone or tablet)
  • Updating your VPN settings to reflect your new computer name

Active Directory Coalescence Project - FAQ

Please refer to the following FAQ for questions regarding the migration process. If you are unable to find the information you are looking for, please contact the UIS Service Desk for assistance.

Q: Is anything changing about the way I log in to my computer?

A: Following the migration, you will log in to your computer using your same username and password. If you are a PC user you will sign in to your workstation using AD\username and your associated password.

Q: Is my email address changing?

A: Your @cu.edu email address will remain the same. Some configuration changes to Outlook and your smartphone or tablet are required in order to successfully connect to your new mailbox. Please refer to our How-To Guides page for the necessary configuration steps.

Q: Will my Outlook client look the same?

A: All of your mailbox content (email, contacts and calendars) will be fully migrated to your new mailbox. This includes signature files and Outlook plugins (GoToMeeting, OnBase, ZixMail, etc.)

Note: Some Outlook client customizations will not carry over, and will need to be reconfigured. These include:

  • Shared calendars: Though your permissions to shared calendar have not changed, you may need to re-add shared calendars to your Outlook profile. Please refer to documentation here for step-by-step instructions on opening a shared calendar, or work with a UIS Service Desk technician following your migration for assistance.
  • Calendar groups: Calendar groups will need to be recreated. Please refer to documentation here for step-by-step instructions for creating a calendar group, or work with a UIS Service Desk technician following your migration for assistance.
  • AutoComplete email addresses: The addresses that automatically populate when you type an address in the 'To:' field are not carried over as part of your migration. If these addresses are critical to your daily operations, please work with a UIS Service Desk technician following your migration for assistance.
  • Email category colors: Though categories themselves are carried over, the associated category colors are not. Please refer to online documentation here for step-by-step instructions on setting category colors, or work with a UIS Service Desk technician following your migration for assistance.
  • Email rules:  Though email rules are carried over as part of your migration, the associated folders that rules move messages into need to be re-specified. Please refer to online documentation here for step-by-step instructions on configuring email rules, or work with a UIS Service Desk technician following your migration for assistance.

Q: When I sign in to webmail, I see my old messages but nothing new. What's worng?

A: The URL for the Outlook Web Access (OWA) portal has changed as part of this upgrade. YOu can sign in to your account online at https://exchange.cu.edu.

Note: When signing in to the new OWA portal, be sure to enter AD before your username (e.g. AD\username) and your associated password in order to sign in.

Q: When I open Outlook, I see my email but do not see any new messages. What's wrong?

A: This indicates that your the necessary configuration changes to your Outlook 2010 or 2013 client did not process, and that you are connected to your old mailbox. Please work with a UIS Service Desk technician following your migration for assistance.

Q: My computer is encrypted using BitLocker. It was migrated successfully, however BitLocker is currently suspended. Is this normal?

A: BitLocker must be suspended in order for our migration utility to function properly. Following your successful migration, UIS will ensure that BitLocker is re-enabled in an automated fashion. Please contact the UIS Service Desk if you believe BitLocker may be having an issue re-enabling.

Q: I've come back into the office following my migration, and when I log in to my computer I am not seeing any of my files. What's wrong?

A: This indicates that your migration did not complete successfully - rest assured that your files and computer customizations have not been lost. Please contact the UIS Service Desk for assistance.

Q: I manage someone else's calendar or mailbox, and now I can't see it or I am unable to manage it (schedule appointments, send email on behalf of, etc.)

A: Please contact the UIS Service Desk for assistance.

Q: I could see someone else's calendar previously, and now I cannot.

A: Shared calendar visibility, including users and conference rooms, is not carried over as part of migration. As a result, calendars will need to be re-added.

Note: Calendar permissions have not changed - those individuals with whom your calendar has been shared will retain the same permissions as before. Please refer to online documentation here for step-by-step instructions on opening a shared calendar, or work with a UIS Service Desk technician following your migration for assistance.

Q: I use a Mac laptop or desktop as my primary machine. How will I be affected by this change?

A: Mac users should only need assistance in updating their email client settings (Outlook 2011 for Mac or Mac Mail). Please work with a UIS Service Desk technician following your migration for assistance.

Q: When working remotely, I connect to my workstation using vpn.cusys.edu. Following the migration, I am unable to connect to my computer using the terminal session shortcut. What's wrong?

A: As your computer is connected to a new domain, it's hostname has changed. Please follow the online documentation here for step-by-step instructions for confirming your computer name and updating the terminal session settings within web VPN, or work with a UIS Service Desk technician following your migration for assistance.

Q: I'm having difficulty in accessing SharePoint.

A: Please work with a UIS Service Desk technician for assistance.