How to properly migrate primary dns server?

[Hayden]

Hi:
We have an old server that is the first Domain Controller and DNS
server of our Active Directoy. We just installed a new server and have
it configured as the DC of our AD. However, what is the proper way to
migrate the DNS to this new server?

Should I simply configured the new server as the secondary DNS and
unplugged the old one from the network and expect everything will work
correctly?

Please advise and many thanks.

 

[William Stacey]

One answer is that you don't have to (unless you have a bunch of manually
configured IPs). When your other servers and dcs join the domain, they will
just update. Same with clients when you point them to the new dns using
dhcp or manually. If you have a bunch of static RRs, cut and paste is
probably easiest. Configure the new dns zone(s) as standard primary so you
get the *.dns files in the ..\dns dir. Copy the old *.dns zone files to a
floppy or over the net and select the records you want to move over (in
notepad, etc) and paste them into the new *.dns. To be safe, stop the new
dns server service or pause the zone while your doing the edits and start up
again after. You can setup as secondary and XFR the records over and
promote to primary zone or AD-integrated zone. Only point is, you may not
have to do anything.
--wjs mvp