Retire old server, move AD to 2008 from 2000

[xedgex]

I need help please. I need to retire and old old server which is the only office server running the domain, obviously it is the DC as well as DNS and DHCP. Other roles include print and file server.

We have a new HP server with Windows 2008 R2, I need this to become the primary server. What is the best and safest way to move over the AD role? Should I start from scratch? or join the new server to the existing domain and work from there? If it is the latter, how exactly do I move the AD role over to the new server....

I greatly appreciate your help, thank you!

 

[58sniper]

You need to search this site. It's been discussed extensively here.

Pat Richard MVP
Plan for performance, and capacity takes care of itself. Plan for capacity, and suffer poor performance.

http://www.ucblogs.net/blogs/exchange/

 

[xedgex]

I tried by using the search feature but didn't come up with one that relates to windows 2000. If you could point me to one I would appreciate it.

 

[rsacorp]

My recommendation would be to start from scratch - if you're upgrading to Win2K8 R2 from Win2K (an 8-year gap), there have been so many changes to AD and other services that you may spend more time researching connectivity issues and conversion guidelines than it will take to rebuild the AD from the ground up.

The best indicator is how much time you want to invest in this project, how many resources you have installed that are AD-dependent, and how sensitive down time will be to the business. If you're a 24-7 shop, you won't have much choice but to join Win2K8 to the existing domain, and search for the steps - however, if you can knock it out over a weekend, you may save yourself more interoperability issues later on.

Just a thought...

Mike Molenda

RSA Corp - Houston, TX
Technical Assistance Center

http://www.rsacorp.com