Full Profile Imports

Question

Hi SharePoint Experts,

Where can I find settings for Full Profile Imports in SharePoint 2010?

Thanks,

Hubble

Answer 1

Assuming you're referring to user profile import?  Manage Service Applications -> User Profile Service Application -> Start Profile Synchronization

This also assumes the synchronization service is started (services on server)

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MCITP-EA | "Never test how deep the water is with both feet"

Answer 2

is it there where you can set up the schedule to automatically do full user profile import? I dont want to start the profile synch now, I'm afraid it might start when I click that "Start Profile Synchronization" tab.

Answer 3

Yep, in the same location from Central Administration.  Manage Service Applications -> User Profile Service Application.  "Synchronization" > "Configure Synchronization Timer Job"

So you can create your Profile data source connection, then configure the timer job to state when to actually run the imports.

Clicking on 'Start Profile Synchronization' gives you the option of starting a full import or partial import.  It's safe to click.  You have to select one or the other and then OK to actually fire the timer job.

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JB

Answer 4

Per my understanding, unlike MOSS there is no interface in SharePoint 2010 to set up a schedule for full user profile synchronizatioin. Please note that full sync takes lots of resources and time to run and complete. Also, incremental synchronization does everything that need to be done.

Steps to schedule incremental synchornization: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee890103(v=office.14).aspx

Did I answer your question? If yes please make sure to mark as answer :)

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Regards, Nikhil Sharma Dharanipragada

Answer 5

Okay, thanks.

The term I'm hearing is "Full Profile Import", not sure if this "Profile Synchronization" is the same as Profile Import. I wonder if there such a thing or option for profile import.

Answer 6

It's the same, in MOSS it was called import.

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MCITP-EA | "Never test how deep the water is with both feet"

Answer 7

Okay, thanks.

I can see that we have Profile Synchronization settings to run daily, but it's incremental only. Does it mean we're not doing full, and is that okay? thanks. 

Answer 8

Thanks, we only do incremental. Just wondering why is there a full synch when incremental is just enough todo the job.

Answer 9

Thanks, we only do incremental. Just wondering why is there a full synch when incremental is just enough todo the job.

Answer 10

Hi HubbleSpace,

You may check this reference for the details about Full synchronization VS synchronization synchronization.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg188041(v=office.14).aspx#types

You can perform two kinds of synchronization: full and incremental. Full synchronization can take a long time—for directories that contain hundreds of thousands of users, it could take several days. Incremental synchronization only synchronizes data that has changed in the external system or SharePoint Server 2010, and is more efficient. You must perform a full synchronization the first time that you synchronize. After that, you can use incremental synchronization unless one of the following conditions is true:

• A mapped property has changed. For example, you mapped a new property, or added or changed a mapping associated with a property.
• You changed the containers that a connection uses to synchronize with a directory service.
• You changed or added a filter.
• An external content type that you are synchronizing with has changed.
• You added or deleted a connection.

You can configure a timer job to run an incremental synchronization on a set schedule, ranging from every few minutes through monthly. You can also start either a full synchronization or an incremental synchronization manually.

Thansk & Regards,
Emir

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Emir Liu
TechNet Community Support

Answer 11

Thanks Emir. I just realized it's just like doing a backup, just have to do full backup the first time, then incremental after would be fine.