Moving from Server 2003 to Server 2008 R2 64 bit

[jdecker]

We are in the process of retiring our 2003 Windows Server. It is currently running DNS, AD, Certificate Authority, DHCP, and Exchange 2003.

Our new server is a Virtual 2008 R2 64 bit. It is currently on the network but is only hosting NPS (IAS in 2003) Role.

I found some Microsoft articles that lay out the process for migration, but it says to migrate the ip address and server name to the new server. However one of the problems I see is that we do not want to move the server name to the new machine. Unfortunately the network was setup by someone else and he used names of rock bands for the servers. We really want to get away from this and use names that better describe what the server is for. So what would you suggest about migrating without changing the destination servers name?

Another question is will demoting the 2003 server while it is hosting Exchange 2003 cause a problem? We plan to move Exchange to a stand alone server in the future, and would like to upgrade to Exchange 2007 or Exchange 2010. However I am not sure when the new server will be setup, so there could be a time period where the 2003 Server is still running after we move the DC responsibilities to the new server.

If anyone has been through this process I would like to know how your process went and any tips you can provide.

Hello jdecker,

No need to take over the names, the article is built from MS because lots
of people like to keep servernames. For Exchange/CA see at the end. You can
follow this way for AD itself.

!!!NEVER START BEFORE HAVING CREATED AND TESTED A BACKUP OF YOUR DATA/MACHINE!!!

- On the old server open DNS management console and check that you are running
Active directory integrated zone (easier for replication, if you have more
then one DNS server)

- run replmon from the run line or repadmin /showrepl(only if more then one
DC exist), dcdiag and netdiag from the command prompt on the old machine
to check for errors, if you have some post the complete output from the command
here or solve them first. For this tools you have to install the support\tools\suptools.msi
from the 2003 installation disk.

- run adprep /forestprep and adprep /domainprep and adprep /rodcprep from
the 2008 installation disk against the 2003 schema master(forestprep) / infrastructure
master(domainprep/rodcprep), with an account that is member of the Schema/Enterprise/Domain
admins, to upgrade the schema to the new version (44) or 2008 R2 (47)

- you can check the schema version with "schupgr" or "dsquery * cn=schema,cn=configuration,dc=domainname,dc=local
-scope base -attr objectVersion" without the quotes in a command prompt

- Install the new machine as a member server in your existing domain

- configure a fixed ip and set the preferred DNS server to the old DNS server
only, think about disabling IPv6 if you are not using it, some known problems
exist with it. Follow (http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/paulb...dows-2008.aspx)
to disable it

- run dcpromo and follow the wizard to add the 2008 server to an existing
domain, make it also Global catalog and DNS server.

- for DNS give the server time for replication, at least 15 minutes. Because
you use Active directory integrated zones it will automatically replicate
the zones to the new server. Open DNS management console to check that they
appear

- if the new machine is domain controller and DNS server run again replmon,
dcdiag and netdiag (copy the netdiag from the 2003 to 2008, will work) on
both domain controllers

- Transfer, NOT seize the 5 FSMO roles to the new Domain controller (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324801
applies also for 2008), FSMO should always be on the newest OS DC

- you can see in the event viewer (Directory service) that the roles are
transferred, also give it some time

- reconfigure the DNS configuration on your NIC of the 2008 server, preferred
DNS itself, secondary the old one

- if you use DHCP do not forget to reconfigure the scope settings to point
to the new installed DNS server

- if needed export and import of DHCP database for 2008 choose "netshell
dhcp backup" and "netshell dhcp restore" command (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../cc772372.aspx)



Demoting the old DC

- reconfigure your clients/servers that they not longer point to the old
DC/DNS server on the NIC

- to be sure that everything runs fine, disconnect the old DC from the network
and check with clients and servers the connectivity, logon and also with
one client a restart to see that everything is ok

- then run dcpromo to demote the old DC, if it works fine the machine will
move from the DC's OU to the computers container, where you can delete it
by hand. Can be that you got an error during demoting at the beginning, then
uncheck the Global catalog on that DC and try again

- check the DNS management console, that all entries from the machine are
disappeared or delete them by hand if the machine is off the network for ever

- also you have to start AD sites and services and delete the old servername
under the site, this will not be done during demotion


Exchange:
To demote a server with exchange installed, you have to first uninstall exchange
to get it removed correct. It should be possible to demote it with exchange
installed but not recommended.

CA:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...66(WS.10).aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...88(WS.10).aspx


Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm


> We are in the process of retiring our 2003 Windows Server. It is
> currently running DNS, AD, Certificate Authority, DHCP, and Exchange
> 2003.
>
> Our new server is a Virtual 2008 R2 64 bit. It is currently on the
> network but is only hosting NPS (IAS in 2003) Role.
>
> I found some Microsoft articles that lay out the process for
> migration, but it says to migrate the ip address and server name to
> the new server. However one of the problems I see is that we do not
> want to move the server name to the new machine. Unfortunately the
> network was setup by someone else and he used names of rock bands for
> the servers. We really want to get away from this and use names that
> better describe what the server is for. So what would you suggest
> about migrating without changing the destination servers name?
>
> Another question is will demoting the 2003 server while it is hosting
> Exchange 2003 cause a problem? We plan to move Exchange to a stand
> alone server in the future, and would like to upgrade to Exchange 2007
> or Exchange 2010. However I am not sure when the new server will be
> setup, so there could be a time period where the 2003 Server is still
> running after we move the DC responsibilities to the new server.
>
> If anyone has been through this process I would like to know how your
> process went and any tips you can provide.
>
> http://forums.techarena.in
>

[jdecker]

Thanks for the reply, I will read all the information and digest it before going any further.

One further question. Would it be possible to run the network with both servers as DC's, and then when we have all programs converted just shutdown and remove the old server?

Hello jdecker,

You can run as much DCs as you like together. At least you should have 2
per domain, also DNS server and Global catalog.

Do NOT shutdown a DC to remove it from the domain, it MUST be demoted to
get it out of the AD database correct. See the end of my article about demoting.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm


> Thanks for the reply, I will read all the information and digest it
> before going any further.
>
> One further question. Would it be possible to run the network with
> both servers as DC's, and then when we have all programs converted
> just shutdown and remove the old server?
>
> http://forums.techarena.in
>