Migrating Active Directory from one server to another within Domain 1

[Seryth]

Hello all, I've been doing a little bit of research about migrating Active Directory, but I'm a little confused because everything seems to refer to migrating from one domain to another.

I'm currently in the final phase of a three part project of migrating our Active Directory, File and Exchange servers from old boxes onto a new blade server. I've already migrated the File and Exchange servers succesfully and am now ready to migrate the Active Directory and hope to do it with as little as possible user disruption.

I don't want to change the domain or anything, I just want to transfer all of the Active Directory functions from one computer to another. Is this as simple as DCPROMOing the new box and letting the information replicate, do I need to use the Active Directory Migration Tool, or is something else needed entirely?

Any help and insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a ton everyone!

 

[markdmac]

You don't provide any details on what the old structure is.

If everything is already 2003, then yes you can just run DCPROMO. That will get AD on the new server.

You will also want to make it host DNS, set it as a GC and transfer all 5 FSMO roles off of the server being retired. Then run DCPROMO on the old server to demote it.



I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[Seryth]

Sorry, I probably should have provided more details.

The current AD server, which of course also houses DNS and DHCP, is running Windows 2000, the new server will be running Windows 2003.

The domain more or less consists of the three main servers, which as I already mentioned the File and Exchange servers have been migrated from the old 2000 boxes to the new blade running 2003 on each. Which a couple other servers running things like Terminal Services, Backup software, etc. All housed within the single domain running a 172.x.x.x/24 ip scheme.

 

[markdmac]

OK, so prior to doing as I mention above you will need to insert the 2003 CD in the 2000 domain controller and execute

ADPREP /FORESTPREP
ADPREP /DOMAINPREP

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript