Replacing old Domain controllers

[kikox2k]

Hi Guys,

I was wondering whether someone could help me with the following:

we have 2 new servers that we want to replace old server (Domain Controllers) and exchange server. we have some applications that are machine name specific and therefore have to keep one server named as one of the old ones. we would like to rename the exchange server to a different name than the current; is this possible? would it not cause any problems? we were thinking about building the new servers outside our production domain, but the problem is how do we add them to the existing network without causing any problems?

Thanks

 

[markdmac]

The Exchange one is easy. Build the box, join to domain. Install Exchange into the same Exchange Site, then use move mailbox to migrate your users to the new server. Use folder replicaiton or pfmigrate to move public folders. Then direct all incoming mail to that server and uninstall Exchange on the old server.

Replacing the DC is not that big of a deal too IF you are SNEAKY!

Install that box with a new name. Join to domain. Run DCPROMO. Wait 15 minutes for replication. If old server held FSMO roles transfer them. If old server was a GC make new server a GC. Install your application.

Run DCPROMO on old server so it is no longer a DC. Remove it from the domain.

Go into DNS. Create a HOSTS entry for old server name and give it the IP of new the server. This will allow the poorly written application to still work.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

 

[kikox2k]

Thanks Mark,

we are trying two options; one is to build a server so that it can join our existing domain (as mentioned in the previous post) in wich case we are wondering whether we need to purchase another exchange licence (we would prefer not to) in order to bring the new server online.
The other Option is is to build a complete new domain (this is the one we wreally want) and transfer everytging to that new domain. that being said; is it possible to restore exchange mailboxes (First storage group) from a backup tape to a different machine (with a different name and IP addresses)and different domain from the one that the backup was originally made from?

Thanks

 

[markdmac]

You will not need to buy a new Exchange license so long as you retire the exisitng install after migration.

You can't restore the database the way you are thinking. Instead you will want to use ExMerge to export/import all mailboxes.

If you go with the new Domain Model, then your best course of action is to set upt he two domains side by side. Create full trusts between the two domains, then use ADMT to migrate all users and computers over to the new domain. This will save you from having to visit each PC to join the new domain and will also preserve user SID history.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

 

[kikox2k]

Thanks for your recent reply.

One more question; what is the implication of promoting a server to becoming a Domain controller, then later depromoting it to becoming just a member server? is it supposed to cause any upsent to the other DCs? I am asking this because we did it once and the other DCs started acting funny.
is it a safe thing to do?

Thanks

 

[markdmac]

it is safe so long as you do it properly. Make sure that before you run DCPROMO that you have removed any FSMO roles and GC status. Remove any other services that should be and when done be sure that the other DCs no longer list it as a replicaiton partner in Sites & Services.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark