There are a number of different ways to migrate SQL Server logins. You can manually re-enter the entire existing login on the new server. You can use DTS to transfer logins. There are probably a number of other ways to transfer logins. This article will discuss one of those other ways to streamline the migration of SQL Server logins, by using the stored procedure (SP) sp_help_revlogin.
What does the sp_help_revlogin do?
The sp_help_revlogin SP is a Microsoft provided utility that generates a TSQL script to migrate logins from one server to another. This SP will not only copy the existing logins, but it will also copy the passwords and Security Identification Numbers (SID) associated with SQL Server Authenticated users.Why you might want to use sp_help_revlogin
When you move a database from one server to another, the entire database and all the system tables associated with it are also moved. One of those system tables is the sysusers table. The sysusers table contains all the users, groups and roles that have access to the database. In order for a person to be able to access the database, they must have two things. The first thing they must have is a SQL Server login. The second thing they need is to be defined as a user in the database. Therefore, if you copy a database from one server to another and the users of the database don't have SQL Server logins then these database users become orphan users. An orphan user is a user in a database with a SID that does not exist in the syslogins table in the master database. Also if the SID stored in the database sysusers table, differs from SID stored in the syslogin table for the matching database user, then the database user is also considered an orphan user. If you retain the original SID for logins, when a user database is migrated, you will not have a problem with orphan users.By using the sp_help_revlogin SP, you can move logins from one server, and create the login entries in the new server and retain the sid. By making sure that all logins exist on the new server prior to copying a database, you will ensure there will be no orphan users after you complete the database copy The sp_help_revlogin SP helps DBA's quickly move logins from one server to another.
The easiest way to execute the sp_help_revlogin script is via Query Analyzer. The SP accepts a single optional parameter, @login_name. If you only want to generate a single login, then you can pass a valid login to sp_help_revlogin, and it will generate a script to create the specified login. When @login_name is not specified this SP generates a TSQL script to create all the logins on the server.
Based on whether the @login_name was specified, the sp_help_revlogin SP builds a cursor called login_curs that contains information in the sysxlogins table in the master database for a single login or all the logins on the server, except sa'. The columns placed in the cursor are sid, name, xstatus and password. The xstatus column will be used to determine if the login is a Windows or SQL Server Authenticated users, as well as whether the login has been denied access. The sid and password will be used to make sure the new login on the new server retains the same sid and password as the original server.
Next the sp_help_revlogin SP processes through the login_curs cursor one login at a time in a while loop. Inside the while loop the SP determines if the login is a Windows authenticated user or group (xstatus = 4) or not. If the user is a Windows authenticated user then a sp_grantlogin statement is generated. For the SQL Server authenticated users a sp_addlogin statement, with the skip_encryption parameter is generated. The skip_encryption parameter is used on the sp_addlogin statement to tell SQL Sever that an encrypted password is being specified when the login is being created, so the password should not be encryted.
For SQL Server authenticated users, the SP needs to determine the sid and password of the login. Since the sid and the password as stored as binary numbers, the sid and password values need to be converted to a string that contains the hexadecimal representation of the binary number. The sp_hexadecimal SP is used to do this binary number to hex string conversion.
When the sp_help_revlogin execution is complete, the script to create the logins should be displayed in the Query Analyzer results pane. All you need to do to add these logins to a server would be just to copy the script from the results pane and run it against the new server where you want to add the logins.
Often I am only moving a single database. When I do that, I modify the creation of the "login_curs" cursor command to look like so:
Another possible use might be to generate the script for all logins, then delete the logins you do not want to move. This method allows you to be selective in the logins that will be created on the new server.
Here I have shown you a method to quickly generate a script that will move all logins from one server to other, as well as offered you ideas on how to move a sub set of users. I am sure you can find other uses for this sp. Using sp_help_revlogin is much easier than re-entering all logins on a new server. In addition, re-entering logins would most likely establish a new password for each login moved, where as this sp allows you to move the passwords. Moving the passwords from one server to another is more user friendly. SQL Server users will be grateful that they do not have to remember a new password, and it makes the migration a little more transparent to the SQL Server users.
Script to Create sp_hexidecimal and sp_help_revlogin
Reference URL
How the sp_help_revlogin Works
The process of moving logins requires not only the sp_help_revlogin SP, but also the sp_hexidecimal SP. These scripts and more information about migrating logons can be found in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;246133. I have also included a script to create both of these SP's at the bottom of this article. Let's review the sp_help_revlogin process.The easiest way to execute the sp_help_revlogin script is via Query Analyzer. The SP accepts a single optional parameter, @login_name. If you only want to generate a single login, then you can pass a valid login to sp_help_revlogin, and it will generate a script to create the specified login. When @login_name is not specified this SP generates a TSQL script to create all the logins on the server.
Based on whether the @login_name was specified, the sp_help_revlogin SP builds a cursor called login_curs that contains information in the sysxlogins table in the master database for a single login or all the logins on the server, except sa'. The columns placed in the cursor are sid, name, xstatus and password. The xstatus column will be used to determine if the login is a Windows or SQL Server Authenticated users, as well as whether the login has been denied access. The sid and password will be used to make sure the new login on the new server retains the same sid and password as the original server.
Next the sp_help_revlogin SP processes through the login_curs cursor one login at a time in a while loop. Inside the while loop the SP determines if the login is a Windows authenticated user or group (xstatus = 4) or not. If the user is a Windows authenticated user then a sp_grantlogin statement is generated. For the SQL Server authenticated users a sp_addlogin statement, with the skip_encryption parameter is generated. The skip_encryption parameter is used on the sp_addlogin statement to tell SQL Sever that an encrypted password is being specified when the login is being created, so the password should not be encryted.
For SQL Server authenticated users, the SP needs to determine the sid and password of the login. Since the sid and the password as stored as binary numbers, the sid and password values need to be converted to a string that contains the hexadecimal representation of the binary number. The sp_hexadecimal SP is used to do this binary number to hex string conversion.
When the sp_help_revlogin execution is complete, the script to create the logins should be displayed in the Query Analyzer results pane. All you need to do to add these logins to a server would be just to copy the script from the results pane and run it against the new server where you want to add the logins.
Other uses for the sp_help_revlogin SP
Using the sp_help_revlogin as it comes from Microsoft will move all logins or a single login. Maybe you only want move all the logins for a single database. It is easy to modify the code that creates the "login_curs" to identify only the users you want to move.Often I am only moving a single database. When I do that, I modify the creation of the "login_curs" cursor command to look like so:
SELECT sid, name, xstatus, password FROM master..sysxlogins a join
Your_DB..sysusers b on a.sid = b.sid
WHERE srvid IS NULL AND name <> 'sa'
By using this logic instead, the sp_help_revlogin will only generate sp_grantlogin, and sp_addlogins for users of the database Your_DB. Another possible use might be to generate the script for all logins, then delete the logins you do not want to move. This method allows you to be selective in the logins that will be created on the new server.
Conclusion
Here I have shown you a method to quickly generate a script that will move all logins from one server to other, as well as offered you ideas on how to move a sub set of users. I am sure you can find other uses for this sp. Using sp_help_revlogin is much easier than re-entering all logins on a new server. In addition, re-entering logins would most likely establish a new password for each login moved, where as this sp allows you to move the passwords. Moving the passwords from one server to another is more user friendly. SQL Server users will be grateful that they do not have to remember a new password, and it makes the migration a little more transparent to the SQL Server users.
Script to Create sp_hexidecimal and sp_help_revlogin
Reference URL
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