how to change the dc

[tim moor]

dear w2k3 gurus
i have a small lab with one w2k3 dc only. this server holds all the services
for my domain. now i'd like to exchange this server with a more powerfull
server. how can move all the ad-stuff to the new server and remove the old
one after.

first i should setup the new server as a dc in the domain. but how can i
savely move all services and roles from the old server to the new.

thanx for a hint or a link

tim

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

Once the new DC is online and replication is working, you can transfer the
FSMO roles - see:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324801

At that point you can run dcpromo on the old server to 'gracefully' remove
it from Active directory. Obviously, you need to consider other issues -
eg. configure the new server as a DNS server pointing to itself, configure
external time, recreate DHCP server, if any, etc.

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Herb Martin]

dear w2k3 gurus
i have a small lab with one w2k3 dc only. this server holds all the services
for my domain. now i'd like to exchange this server with a more powerfull
server. how can move all the ad-stuff to the new server and remove the old
one after.

Probably the best method is a full backup followed by an
ASR (Automatic System Restore) backup.

Then you can use the original CDROM of the OS to perform
the ASR (press F2 when prompted and supply the ASR floppy
when prompted for that.)

If it works, the hardware issues will be resolved (they almost
always are (and you still have the original hardware if it doesn't)

first i should setup the new server as a dc in the domain. but how can i
savely move all services and roles from the old server to the new.

I would use ASR if I wished to MOVE the DC.

Adding another DC is fine, but that assumes you don't need
the IDENTITY of this DC.

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

Good point, Herb - this is an ideal scenario for ASR.

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Herb Martin]

Good point, Herb - this is an ideal scenario for ASR.

In fact ASR was (partially) designed for this. <grin>

In Win2000 one can approximate it manually by doing
a backup, restore and repair install, but in that case you
have manual know how to set the disk volume types,
sizes, and formats which the ASR Floppy has recorded
for Win2003.

 

[tim moor]

doug and herb,
thank you for your hints.

tim