swapping FSMO roles

[billybunter]

Hi I have two DC's one has all of the FSMO roles on DC1. I want to swap these to our second DC, DC2 so that I can demote and the repromote the first DC, DC1. Is this as simple as swapping all of the roles to DC2 and running dcpromo on DC1 and then running it again, once I have done this can I then swap all of the roles back to DC1.

Hope this makes sense

Thanks

 

[buddafish]

you are on the right path. there are a few ways to TRANSFER the roles. the most simple is to use active directory users and computers, active directory domains and trusts, active directory schema interfaces to move the specific roles. make DC2 a global catalog too.
if you like, you can use ntdsutil.exe to move everything from the command line. and for the record, AD will attempt to move the roles to an active DC if you attempt to demote a domain controller that holds a FSMO role, but this is not the preferred way to go about it.
and do it again from DC2 to move them back to DC1... if necessary

best of luck,

scottie