replacing 2003 server

[350ztn]

I am going to be replacing the 2003 server in our environment. This is the only server and is the AD and fileserver. It is currently 2003, and I will be replacing the server hardware and upgrading to 2003R2. Are there any tech docs or items I must be aware of before doing this? I have only added servers to a network, not replaced one that is the primary server...so help is needed.

 

[teqmod]

I would add the second machine as a domain controller and transfer all roles from your current domain controller to your new domain controller. Here are some articles, some are for 2000 ut also work in 2003:

How can I transfer some or all of the FSMO Roles from one DC to another?

http://www.petri.co.il/transferring_fsmo_roles.htm

How To Create or Move a Global Catalog in Windows 2000

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=313994

[If you run Exchange 2000] Windows Server 2003 adprep /forestprep Command Causes Mangled Attributes in Windows 2000 Forests That Contain Exchange 2000 Servers

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=314649

[If using R2 release of Windows 2003] Extending Your Active Directory Schema for New Features in Windows Server 2003 R2

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...03-84DD-480F-98F9-526EC09E9BA8&displaylang=en

How to move a DHCP database from a computer that is running Windows NT Server 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows Server 2003 to a computer that is running Windows Server 2003

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=325473

How can I move DNS from one Windows 2000 Server to another Windows 2000 Server?

http://www.jsifaq.com/subG/TIP3300/rh3357.htm

http://www.jsifaq.com/SUBN/tip6700/rh6731.htm

 

[58sniper]

And there are countless threads here where this has been discussed ad-nauseum. A simple search would have yielded more than you need.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[350ztn]

Am I correct in assuming I can run DCpromo from my new 2003 server to the current 2003 domain and transfer FSMO and services, then from the first server run dcpromo and make it a member server? Is this possible to do?

 

[58sniper]

If the current schema is at the 2003 level, and your new server is 2003 R2, you'll need to adprep your forest and domain schemas to the newer level first.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt