SURFdrive migration steps when your username or institution has been migrated

This manual describes the required steps which should be followed when you currently are using a SURFdrive account, which will be migrated to a new SURFdrive account.

This procedure applies when:

Your username within your institution is changed^*. When this happens without precautionary steps, SURFdrive creates a new user, and you cannot access your files stored on SURFdrive.
When the SURFconext connection is migrated to a new identityprovider (idp). In that case, a new/different username will be assigned to you by your institution. In that case, SURFdrive doesn't know you and wil create a new user.

^{* Your username is not always the same as your e-mail adres! You can find your username in your profile (top right on SURFdrive).}

Migration steps SURFdrive

The migration of a SURFdrive account to a new identity provider or different username is in short order:

Your existing accounts will be disabled/blocked.
All data will be migrated to your new account. This will be done by SURF.
After the migration, you log in via SURFconext with your new account.

When you are not using the SURFdrive desktop client, the migration is complete. You'll login with your new account on SURFdrive.

SURFdrive WebDAV

When you are using WebDAV, you'll need to create a new WebDAV registration and change your configuration. You can find a howto here.

SURFdrive desktop client

When you are using the SURFdrive desktop client, more steps are required.

Migration steps SURFdrive with the Desktop client

When you are using the SURFdrive desktop client, additional steps are required. The steps required are comparable with installing SURFdrive on a new laptop. In order to prevent SURFdrive to redownload everything, and store everything locallyt wice, it is recommended to use the same synchronisation directory as the current SURFdrive synchronisation directory.

Before the migration:

Take note of your current synchronisation directory location.
Take note which folders are being synchronised.

After the migration

Reconnect you SURFdrive client to an existing folder.

Which steps should be taken before the migration?

Document current synchronization folder location

Before migration it is recommended to document SURFdrive synchronisation folder location. Also, it might be handy to document which files/folders are being synchronised. These steps are separately documented for Mac OS and Windows.

Document current synchronisation folder Mac OS

Open the SURFdrive application in the finder.
Click on ‘…’ and ‘Open Folder’
Document the location of the synchronization folder. this is shown when you hover your mouse over the synchronisation configuration. Usually the file location is in the form of: /Users/<user>/Surfdrive
When you are not synchronizing all folders, document which folders you are synchronizing. This information is needed when you reconnect to SURFdrive.

Document current synchronisation folder Windows

Open the SURFdrive application from the taskbar.
Click on ‘…’ and click on ‘ ‘Open folder’ (Windows)
Document the location of the synchronization folder. this is shown when you hover your mouse over the synchronisation configuration. Usually the file location is in the form of: c:\users\<user>\surfdrive
When you are not synchronizing all folders, document which folders you are synchronizing. This information is needed when you reconnect to SURFdrive.

Reconnect your SURFdrive account to an existing synchronisation folder

Perform the following steps in order to reconnect the desktop client.

Reconnect Mac OS

When the accounts are migrated, the old accounts are disabled. The synchronisation is stopped in the desktop client.
Remove the existing synchronisation:
Click on ‘Account’ and ‘Remove’
Confirm the removal, the files will be retained on the local drive.
Click on ‘add account’
Log in using SURFconext and select your new IDP (example: ‘SURF (Nieuw)’)
Click on 'Authorize',so the Desktop Client can reconnect:
After authorizing your new SURFDrive account the client will say you’re all set. Before clicking finish select Advanced Settings.
Here you must select your previous sync folder as your local download folder.
Your data should now synchronize
Optional step. When you do not want to synchronise everything: select the folders you want to synchronize and accept the change to the settings

Reconnect Windows

When the accounts are migrated, the old accounts are disabled. The synchronisation is stopped in the desktop client.
Remove the existing synchronisation:
Click on ‘Account’ and ‘Remove’
Confirm the removal, the files will be retained on the local drive.
Click on ‘add account’
Log in using SURFconext and select your new IDP (example: ‘SURF (Nieuw)’)
Click on 'Authorize',so the Desktop Client can reconnect:
After authorizing your new SURFDrive account the client will say you’re all set. Before clicking finish select Advanced Settings.
Select the earlier documented SURFdrive folder.By default this is: c:\users\<user>\surfdrive as your local download folder
Your data should now synchronize

SURFdrive migration steps when your username or institution has been migrated

Table of contents

Migration steps SURFdrive

Migration steps SURFdrive with the Desktop client

Which steps should be taken before the migration?

Reconnect your SURFdrive account to an existing synchronisation folder