The upgrade only requires that the source data be available to the target application and upgrade tools. If the hardware of the target system is the same as the source system, then the data is already staged. This is because the data is upgraded in place by the upgrade tools.

If the target system will use new hardware, then the data must be staged on that hardware prior to the upgrade.

For Source System as Windchill 12.0.1.0 or later releases, copy the below mentioned JSON files from <WINDCHILL_HOME>/IEConf of the source system to <WINDCHILL_HOME>/Upgrade/UpgradePhases/GatherUpgradeProperties of the target system.

For details, refer Exporting the Source LDAP Structure from Windchill Directory Server.