All,

I am currently running Windows 2008 R2 Forest/Domain and wish to build a new server running on better hardware but use the same domain name. Once built the old server will be switched off.
Can someone explain how I can install Windows 2008R2 and use the same domain name. I only have a handful of accounts and these can be created manually very easily.

Thanks
Msuk

Hi.

Does the new server need to have the same name as the old one? If not, the easiest thing to do is build the new server, join it to the existing domain and then demote the old server. That way the AD structure and FSMO roles will get transferred to the new server.

Dave

Hello,

Thanks for advice, by simply demoting the old server will all the object get replicated across?

Thanks

By adding a new domain controller to the domain the Active Directory Schema (users, groups, login scripts, etc) will get replicated. Any files and shared folders will need to be copied manually. When you run dcpromo to demote the old server then everything will function using the new DC.

If you want to transfer the FSMO roles by hand before demoting the old server this article explains how to do that: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/255690

Dave

As Dave said, you should be fine by adding the new server to the domain then demoting the old one. All AD objects and group policies will get replicated. Any files and shared folders, etc will need to be copied by hand.

Running dcpromo will transfer FSMO roles to the new server from the old.

Hello,
Nice post i like it
but i am new in this forum site
please help me
Thanks

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