Migrate Active Directory from Windows Server 2003 R2 to Windows Server 2012 R2

Migrate Active Directory Domain Services from Windows Server 2003 R2 to Windows Server 2012 R2

Setup Used for this article:

a- DC-2003-R2 ( Installed ADDS & DNS) (Windows Server 2003 R2)
b- DC-2012-R2 (Windows Server 2012 R2)

(Note: I have created few test Users, Groups and OUs to test the Migration process in Windows Server 2003 R2 [DC-2003-R2]).

Pre-Requisites

1- Raise Domain and Forest Functional level to Windows Server 2003 on Windows Server 2003 R2 Domain Controller.

2- Install Support Tools on Windows Server 2003 R2 from Windows Server 2003 R2 Installation Media.

After Installing ADDS & DNS, we will Raise Domain and Forest Functional level to Windows Server 2003 in (DC-200-R2).

And now we are going to our new Server (DC-2012-R2), to join it to the old Server (DC-2003-R2).

In (DC-2012-R2) we going to Server Manager to Install ADDS & DNS.

Click the (Promote this Server to a domain controller).

Select (Add a domain controller to an existing domain), Next

The Domain Name System (DNS) Server and Global Catalog (GC) must be selected, the enter the Password for AD Restore Mode (DSRM)

Save the AD DS database, log files, SYSVOL in location

Next then Install

After installing ADDS on (DC-2012-R2), we need to transfer FSMO role from DC-2003-R2 to DC-2012-R2
On (DC-2012-R2) open Command Prompt and run ( netdom query fsmo )

On (DC-2012-R2), open Active Directory Users and Computers Console and change RID, PDC & Infrastructure Operation Master from (DC-2003-R2) to (DC-2012-R2)

On (DC-2012-R2), open Active Directory Domain and Trusts Console and Change Domain Naming Operation Master from (DC-2003-R2) to (DC-2012-R2)

On (DC-2012-R2), we need to change Schema Master from (DC-2003-R2) to (DC-2012-R2), to change Schema Master register Schema Master Console from Command prompt.

Run ( regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll ) on Command prompt.

On (DC-2012-R2), Add Active Directory Schema Console from MMC and Change Schema Master from (DC-2003-R2) to (DC-2012-R2)

On (DC-2012-R2), open Active Directory Users and Computers Console and Verify that Active Directory database Replicated successfully to (DC-2012-R2).
(e.g. Users, OU’s and Groups etc.)
Active Directory database replication may take some time depend on the numbers of Objects in Active Directory.

Once you verify that Active Directory Users, OU’s, Groups, and Computers etc. replicated to (DC-2012-R2) successfully, then open Active Directory Sites and Services and remove (DC-2003-R2) from Global Catalog Server.

Now Verify that (DC-2012-R2) is running FSMO Role.
Run ( regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll ) on Command prompt.

Now Change the (Preferred DNS server) in properties of you Ethernet from (DC-2003-R2) DNS to (127.0.0.1).

On (DC-2003-R2), Change (Preferred DNS server) in properties of you Ethernet from IP Address of (DC-2003-R2) DNS to the IP Address of (DC-2012-R2)

In Addition, run ( dcpromo ) Command to demote (DC-2003-R2)

Then Restart your Computer.

On (DC-2012-R2), open Active Directory Users and Computers, the Raise Domain and Forest functional level to Windows Server 2008.