Step by step guide to migrate and move roles from server 2003 domain to server 2008 R2 domain
admin on August 26th, 2011
in my organization we are planning to migrate existing domain controller server 2003 to Server 2008 R2 ,after a short period we are successfully transferred this task ,here i list the procedure we are done in the servers,my server details are follows
1.Domain name:Spidersoft.in
2.Server 2003 name:justinjacob
3.Server 2008 R2 Name:webutility
Now start the installation procedure
1.Install a new server 2008 R2 server
2.Install service pack and critical updates
3.Add the machine to existing domain (This procedure is exactly the same as joining a workstation to the domain.)
4.Insert the Windows Server 2008 R2 media into your current server (server 2003)
open a command prompt and go to CD drive sources\adprep Folder
type
First run “ForestPrep”-Update forest information,Execute the command

It will display Adprep Warning “Before running Adprep,all windows 2000 active directory domain controllers in the forest should be upgraded to windows 2000 SP4 or later”
If all your exisitng windows 2000 active domain controllers meet this requirements type “c” and Enter

After completion Run

After
Promote the new server as a Domain Controller for the domain
Enter dcpromoon server 2008 R2, at a command prompt and follow the wizard. When prompted











The current FSMO role configuration for your network can be found by running the command at a command prompt on a Domain Controller.
Find current domain controllers
Now we can transfer roles from server 2003 to 2008
Transfer the Schema Master Role
Use the Active Directory Schema Master snap-in to transfer the schema master role. Before you can use this snap-in, you must register the Schmmgmt.dll file.
Register Schmmgmt.dll
Click Start, and then click Run.
Type regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll in the Open box, and then click OK.
Click OK when you receive the message that the operation succeeded.

Transfer the Schema Master Role
Click Start, click Run, type mmc in the Open box, and then click OK.
On the File, menu click Add/Remove Snap-in.
Click Add.
Click Active Directory Schema, click Add, click Close, and then click OK.

In the console tree, right-click Active Directory Schema, and then click Change Domain Controller.
Click Specify Name, type the name of the domain controller that will be the new role holder, and then click OK.

In the console tree, right-click Active Directory Schema, and then click Operations Master.
Click Change.
Click OK to confirm that you want to transfer the role, and then click Close.
Transfer the Domain Naming Master Role
Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Domains and Trusts.
Right-click Active Directory Domains and Trusts, and then click Connect to Domain Controller.
Select the New domain controller server

In the console tree, right-click Active Directory Domains and Trusts, and then click Operations Master.

Click Change.
Click OK to confirm that you want to transfer the role, and then click Close.
Transfer the RID Master, PDC Emulator, and Infrastructure Master Roles
Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
Right-click Active Directory Users and Computers, and then click Connect to Domain Controller.
In the console tree, right-click Active Directory Users and Computers, point to All Tasks, and then click Operations Master.

Click the appropriate tab for the role that you want to transfer (RID, PDC, or Infrastructure), and then click Change.

Click OK to confirm that you want to transfer the role, and then click Close.
Now open a command prompt and type
If all are successful it will display the new server details
After we need to depromote Old server 2003 run DCPROMO on server 2003 machine
LEAVE THIS ABOVE BOX UNCHECKED, this will enable windows 2003 domain controller transfer all AD database to windows 2008 domain controller.
Complete the wizard , wait until demotion completed.







Excellent article! It was clear, concise and so easy to follow.
Once I run netdom query fsmo and see that everything points to the new server, is it safe to run the demotion and turn off the old server?
(All data is moved to the new server already)
I ran a bit of a test without demoting the old server and turned off some of the essential services on the old server but it caused some undesirable network issues, so it got me a bit worried.
Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Ron
Excellent Article!!
I am in a process of upgrading our DC (which is win2k3) to Win2k8(on to a new machine) which is HP Proliant DL360P GEN 8….
If i follow these steps that you mention above, will that do it? Also, once you done with the last step, you will have 2 DCs, okay so how can you get rid of the old DC and use the NEW DOMAIN CONTROLLER? PLS ADVICE
THANKS
Excellent article got me out of trouble adding a new server 2008R2 to a 2003 domain with the original domain master is down and not recoverable. Then promoting the 2008 to be the domain master (schema, RID PDC etc.)
tony:
we are going to be shutting down a windows 2003 sbs server that has alot of bad sectors that is functioning as a DC and exchange server with two windows 2008 R2 servers.
i am interested in how you promoted your 2008R2 svr if the 2003 domain was down and not recoverable.
the windows 2008 R2 server we plan on promoting to a DC
is joined to the domain as a member server. the network
has less than 10 users.
can we just install active directory, dhcp and dns on the
win2008 R2 server and reconfigure all of the users that
were on the windows 2003 SBS server?
re exchange – we are going to install exchange 2010 on
a new windows 2008 R2 server and planned on backing up
all of the users email data into pst files as the existing
exchange module may be corrupt.
thanks for your help.
chuck
tony:
we are going to be shutting down a windows 2003 sbs server that has alot of bad sectors that is functioning as a DC and exchange server with two windows 2008 R2 servers.
i am interested in how you promoted your 2008R2 svr if the 2003 domain was down and not recoverable.
the windows 2008 R2 server we plan on promoting to a DC
is joined to the domain as a member server. the network
has less than 10 users.
can we just install active directory, dhcp and dns on the
win2008 R2 server and reconfigure all of the users that
were on the windows 2003 SBS server?
re exchange – we are going to install exchange 2010 on
a new windows 2008 R2 server and planned on backing up
all of the users email data into pst files as the existing
exchange module may be corrupt.
thanks for your help.
chuck