Upgrade DirSync to Azure AD Connect with ease

Q. I have DirSync installed to synchronize to Azure, is there an easy upgrade to Azure AD Connect?

A. Azure AD Connect was made generally available (GA) on 24th June 2015 and can be downloaded from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=47594. Once downloaded it can be executed and will detect the existing DirSync instance, automatically remove it, and then install Azure AD Connect while maintaining your original configuration. If you re-execute the Azure AD Connect wizard it is possible to tune the configuration and also add additional applications to the Start Screen/Menu. To perform granular configuration, including configuring OUs to replicate, use the Synchronization Service Manager which is the Microsoft Identity Manager Client. This can be found at C:Program FilesMicrosoft Azure AD SyncUIShellmiisclient.exe.

Once the Azure AD Connect is deployed, you can use Azure AD Connect Health to help monitor the health of the synchronization. Full information on the Azure AD Connect Health can be found at https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/azure/dn906722.aspx.