Replacing hardware for Forest DCs

[dweezil]

I am in the planning stages of migrating a small W2k Forest/Root Domain (no
children) over to new hardware. I have replaced W2k DCs before and know the
procedure (transferring FSMO roles, enabling as GC, adjusting DNS as needed,
dcpromo to demote before removal) but have never had to actually replace a
"First in Forest" machine. I have heard rumors about issues with removing
the First in Forest DC but I have not been able to corroborate any of these.
I assume that it originally stemmed from people not transferring the FSMO
roles over prior to the removal of the DC.

Anyway, besides the procedural issues I listed above, does anyone know of
any problems I might experience when specifically removing the First in
Forest DC? Please give links or references if you do.

 

[Chriss3]

You have covered all must all steps as I can found nescary to, remove the
old server complete, remember to do that manually from Site and Services,
from the particular site it was located in, DCPROMO dose not do that during
demotion.

 

[dweezil]

Thanks Chriss3! From what I have read, when you demote a DC using dcpromo,
it is "supposed" to transfer the FSMO roles for you. I plan to do it
manually, as I always have, cuz I just don't trust dcpromo to do it as I
have heard too many horror stories.

-dou¿

 

[Chriss3]

Dweezil, I manually move are never wrong, in the scenario of demoting a DC
when only one are left. the DCPROMO is a very trusted way to move the roles.
other wise DCPROMO demotion wizard dose not let you to chose where the roles
will be transferred.