| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| dibbkd |
Posted - 06/05/2012 : 4:14:02 PM
We are finally upgrading our Windows 2003 server to 2008 R2. The 2003 server runs Active Directory, domain controller, printers, files, DNS, and DHCP.
The 2008 server is a new box, it's not really "upgrading" the 2003 server, it's replacing it I guess you'd say.
Is there a tool to copy the info from the old server to the new one, and keep the server name the same?
Not sure what the easiest (and best) way of going about this.
I have about 40 workstations (XP, Vista, and W7) and 3 printers to deal with.
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| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| wkasdo |
Posted - 06/06/2012 : 11:05:11 AM
Looks like I made some unwarranted assumptions about your AD readiness  . Sorry about that.
Should you want to learn more about AD, be sure to check out Mark's book.
GC = Global Catalog. |
| Jazzy |
Posted - 06/06/2012 : 07:25:22 AM
Yes. |
| dibbkd |
Posted - 06/06/2012 : 07:11:42 AM
Are you saying when I promote the 2008 server that it will then automatically copy the AD database from the 2003 server to it?
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| Jazzy |
Posted - 06/06/2012 : 07:09:30 AM
No, the domain controller is just a database server to hold the content of your domain. The new domain controller will host the same active directory database, no matter what the computername of the new server is. This happens during the second step in Willem's plan, the promoting of the server from a normal server to a domain controller. |
| dibbkd |
Posted - 06/06/2012 : 07:03:18 AM
Thanks so much for the advice.
So if I don't keep the same name, I'd have to rejoin all the workstations to the new domain right? Or I guess you could have different names on the servers but have the same domain name? But I'd think you'd still have to rejoin the workstation?
Is there an easy way to "copy" all the user accounts to the new server? I could recreate them but there are about 60 accounts and it'd be a pain.
Also, what is "GC" that you mentioned?
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| wkasdo |
Posted - 06/06/2012 : 02:58:59 AM
The easiest way is NOT to keep the same name ... but if you have to, here is one way to do it. The correct order here is essential.
- verify the backup of the 2003 machine .
- Promote the new box to DC, make sure to make it GC + DNS
- transfer all 5 roles
- set the external time server.
- point the 2003 box to 2008R2 for DNS
- demote the 2003 box
- now, RENAME the 2008R2 box.
- run dcdiag to make sure all is well
- (swap IP addresses if you have to, not forgetting to correct DNS references)
- install and authorize DHCP
- move DHCP data (netsh)
- move data and printers.
- Turn off the 2003 box.
Done. If you are satisfied that all is well you have three more steps:
- set Domain level to 2008 R2
- set Forest level to 2008 R2
- enable AD Recycle bin.
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