Server upgrade: New hardware old software

[jamesch]

I have a question; we are upgrading our server, and buying a new one. We have a Dell with a PIII 933 MHZ and 1G memory with Windows 2000 ADV server, and other stuff. We are now going to buy a new server with NO operating system, just the hardware. It’s going to be a Dell 3.2MHZ W/2MB cache, and 3G memory, and other stuff. We want to use the same software OS on the old one and install it on the new one. The old server will be recycled and will not be used. How do I keep the same server name, on the new server? The old server is our only DC on the subnet, and I have AD installed. I was thinking that I do have another server that I could promote to a DC, and just transfer roles to it, and down the old server, and just replace it with the new server, but what about the server name, I want to keep it the same, I have over 150 users pointing to the server for resources.

Thanks, CJH

 

[Zelandakh]

If the old server came with an OS preinstalled, you can't move the software as it is OEM.

To keep the same name, you need another machine as a DC in the same domain. Get everything sync'd. Then down the old, bin the machine account. Install new hardware with old name, join domain, promote to DC. Remove old DC after moving FSMOs to new hardware. Bin temp machine acct.

There are FAQs all over Tek-Tips on doing this - the above is a just a top line summary.