AD 2003 migration and retire Win2k DCs

[Guest]

We currently have 2 Win2k DCs which are out of warrantee and plan on
retiring. We currently have 2 Win2003 member servers which are home to an
Exchange 2003 cluster. We also have a front end Exchange server on Win2003
and a SQL cluster using Win2003.

I am installing 2 new Win2003 server to replace the existing DCs. Besides
running forestprep and domainprep on the existing Active Directory and
dcpromo on the two new servers what else do I need to do? What do I need to
test before I demote and retire to old servers? Are there any "gotcha's" to
be aware of?

 

[Herb Martin]

I am installing 2 new Win2003 server to replace the existing DCs. Besides
running forestprep and domainprep on the existing Active Directory and
dcpromo on the two new servers what else do I need to do?

Transfer any roles (from departing DCs) and make sure the new DCs are GCs.

Arrange DNS in place of any DNS on departing DCs/servers.

Change clients to point to correct (internal DNS server set),
and remove departing servers.

Arrange any similar changes for WINS server if you use it.

Run DCDiag on the new DCs to prove they are correctly
replicating and represented in DNS etc.

What do I need to
test before I demote and retire to old servers?

Turn off the old DCs and see if any CLIENTS have issues.
(The DCs will complain due to replication failures do DCDiag
for instance will show problems due to these missing DCs.)

Are there any "gotcha's" to be aware of?

Make sure your DNS is correct and do the DCPromo ONLINE
so that the other DCs will know these servers are "departing"
and will pick up any roles your have forgotten.

(Although roles SHOULD transfer at DCPromo, it is far
preferable to be sure by transferring them explicitly and
to also CHOOSE the other DC which will take each role.)

 

[Andrei Ungureanu]

make the new servers Global Catalogs and setup exchange servers to query
those new servers.
Before you demote the old servers make sure that everything is replicated
and remove them for a short period to see how the other servers perform.

PS: point workstations to the new DNS servers