How to migrate Managed Metadata to different environments? (SharePoint 2010)

Question

Managed Metadata terms and termset each have a unique guid. In this scenario, take a backup of a production site that is using managed metadata in some columns in a list. Now restore this site into another environment. The guids don't match up, therefore you have to go through and reclick each term and "wire it back up" so it's okay and doesn't show in red text.

I've written a utility that will go through each list, checks the terms text, finds that test in the term set, then resets the guid accordingly.

But there has to be a better way. What am I missing? (By not using a third party pay tool)

Answer 1

The by far easieast way to move the MMS between environment is to use a backup->restore approach.

1. remove the MMS SA from your destination farm
2. restore the db to your destination sql
3. create new MMS SA using the restored db name
4. Voila

Answer 2

Check this out on my blog, http://erickhaw.blogspot.com/2010/11/migrate-sharepoint-2010-managed.html

Answer 3

The Cleverworkarounds blog has some tips worth checking out and a script you can use (which sounds like your approach). I know of a better way. Remember it's a v1.0 feature from Microsoft and so there's lots of work left to do (lots of bugs too).

There's also the (free) SolidIQ Managed Metadata Exporter which can get you part of the way.