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This guide explains the manual method to upgrade from SharePoint 2010 to SharePoint 2016. It is a 2-stage procedure as there is no provision for a direct upgrade from SharePoint 2010 to SharePoint 2016. First, one must upgrade from SharePoint 2010 to SharePoint 2013 and then from SharePoint 2013 to SharePoint 2016.
Read Also: Things to know before migrating to SharePoint 2016
SharePoint 2016 has many advanced features. That is why SharePoint 2010 users want to migrate to SharePoint 2016. Some new features in SharePoint 2016 are:
Upgrading from one version of SharePoint Server to another version is a sequential procedure with the steps:
As we are following a 2-stage procedure for upgrading SharePoint Server 2010 to SharePoint Server 2016, we need to go through these five stages in both the steps, i.e., for SharePoint 2010 to SharePoint 2013 upgrade and SharePoint 2013 to SharePoint 2016 upgrade.
Download an automated tool, Kernel Migrator for SharePoint to perform bulk migration from SharePoint 2010 to SharePoint 2016.
There are certain things to know before migrating to SharePoint 2016. So, let us start the manual process for the migration.
Before upgrading the content, a new server farm needs to be created in SharePoint 2016.
Prerequisites for creating a new SharePoint Server 2016 farm
Now, create the SharePoint Server 2013 farm –
In this step, you have to create a SharePoint 2010 web application, create backups of the SharePoint 2010 content databases and then restore them into the SQL Server of SharePoint 2013.
You can either use central administration or PowerShell cmdlets to retrieve all content databases of the web application.
If using central administration, navigate to Central Administration >> Application Management >> Manage Content Databases.
If using PowerShell cmdlet, the syntax is:
Now, you need to copy the backed-up databases to the new SharePoint server. Again, open the 2013 SQL Server Management Studio. Within Object Explorer, connect to the database and expand Database. Select your database, right-click on it and select Restore Database. Provide the required details and complete the process.
SharePoint 2010 service applications need to be migrated to the newly created SharePoint farm. Each service application requires the installation of one or more SQL Servers. The service applications that are to be migrated from SharePoint 2010 to SharePoint 2013 includes Business Data Connectivity, Managed Metadata, PerformancePoint Services, Secure Store, Search, and User Profile.
To upgrade the service applications databases, follow the procedure:
# Stores the identity for the Search service instance on this server as a variable
# Starts the service instance
Upgrade Secure Store service application by typing the following command:
Use this cmdlet to view the proxies in the default group:
Scan content databases of the web application by running this PowerShell command:
It helps in reporting various issues – missing features, solution dependencies, orphaned sites, wide lists, etc.
After this test, attach content databases to SharePoint Server 2013 web applications. First mount the root site collection’s database. If migrating ‘My sites,’ then migrate its host first. Run this command:
Now, you can easily access site collection in SharePoint 2010 mode.
The next step is to upgrade site collections. It is required to change the old look and functionalities of the SharePoint Server 2010. For that, site collection administrator needs to migrate all site collections to SharePoint Server 2013. For this, just click on the links available on the upgrade reminder banner in the site collection.
To verify Site Collection upgrade, within the Site Collection, go to Site Settings > Site Collection Administration > Site Collection upgrade > Review Site Collection Upgrade Status. Thus, you can view the upgrade status for the Site Collection.
You can easily get the upgrade status from the Upgrade Status page in Central Administration (follow Central Admin > Upgrade and Migration > Check upgrade status).
Thus, the SharePoint Server 2010 database is migrated to SharePoint Server 2013.
Now, the task is to upgrade SharePoint Server 2013 to SharePoint Server 2016. For that, you need to create a SharePoint 2016 farm. Then again back up and restore SharePoint Server 2013 database as done for the upgrade from SharePoint Server 2010 to SharePoint Server 2013. The steps are similar. You just need to perform it between SharePoint Server 2013 and SharePoint Server 2016. One exception to this upgrade is that you do not need to create a new web application as the database is moving to a production ready web application, SharePoint Server 2016. Thus, you can upgrade SharePoint 2010 to SharePoint 2016 manually.
Upgrading from one SharePoint Server version to another manually is feasible. But it is a quite complex process. It is time-consuming and error-prone. Also, technical knowledge of PowerShell commands is needed.
But easy and stress-free migration of data from one SharePoint Server (2010) to another SharePoint Server (2016) is also possible. Try a professional software, for upgrading or downgrading SharePoint Server 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 SharePoint Online (Microsoft 365) versions. This SharePoint Migration tool is simple and offers direct migration between different SharePoint versions. You can perform bulk migration (sites, libraries, etc.), map users, migrate metadata and permissions, and schedule the migration without any hassle using this tool. It supports migration of both SharePoint on-premises and SharePoint Online. Visit the website to know more.
The manual SharePoint 2010 to SharePoint 2016 migration technique involves two stages and is indirect, which makes it hard and complex even for technical users. So, an automated migration tool is recommended for effortless and direct migrations.
The migration process from SharePoint version 2010 to the latest 2016 is not a smooth ride. It is time-consuming and takes a lot of effort. But this software has turned it into a cakewalk. Definitely a tool that should be used by all companies.
An excellent guide for migrating data from SharePoint 2010 to SharePoint 2016