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Replacing a Windows 2003 domain controller with a new domain controller

I have two domain controllers SVR-01 and SVR-03 both Windows 2003. I am about the retire SVR-03 and replace it with another new domain controller SVR-04. Currently SVR-03 is also a DNS server.

These are the steps that I am about to perform to retire SVR-03 and make SVR-04 a domain controller. Can somebody confirm the steps and point me at some links to assist:
•      Uninstall DNS service from SVR-03
•      Install DNS service from SVR-04
•      Change SVR-01 to point at the new DNS server svr-04
•      Change all group policies that set DNS for the clients to the new server
•      Use DCPROMO to demote SVR-03 (Any good links that I can follow?)
•      Use DCPROMO to promote SVR-04 (Any good links that I can follow?)

Thanks

Michael Pfister

My 5 cents:

- Check which of your DCs holds which FSMO roles. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324801/en-us for more info
- I wouldn't deinstall DNS on SRV-03. If you're using AD integrated DNS, all records of your SRV-03 will be deleted automatically. Or clean up DNS manually afterwards
- Is SRV-01 a DNS server as well? If not this would be a good opportunity to install a secondary DNS on it
- Reverse the last 2 steps and add a new one:
* Use DCPROMO to promote SVR-04
! Move FSMO roles that SRV-03 holds to SRV-04 or better split FSMO roles between SRV-01 and SRV-04. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324801/en-us for more info
*Use DCPROMO to denote SVR-03
- DNS settings for the clients can be set by policy but usually get primarily set via DHCP! So check/change here too!

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Michael Pfister

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GlennCameron

ASKER

Thanks for the links and info. At present SVR-01 hold all FSMO records and yes it is a DNS server. DNS is intergrated into AD therefore from the information in your posted and the articles, I just have to do the following steps:
*Use DCPROMO to promote SVR-04
*Use DCPROMO to denote SVR-03

Currently I dont have to touch the FSMO records because they are all held by SVR-01.

Do you agree?

GlennCameron

ASKER

How i sync my new dns server into the current dns server? All forward andreverse lookup zones are blank

GlennCameron

ASKER

Forget the last question!!!!

I have successfully promoted SVR-04 and demote SVR-03 and everything went well. I currently have one issue however.
The new server svr-04 is not showing up in DNS under default-first-site-name etc like SVR-03 use to.

DCDIAG also fails with 'Skipping all tests because SVR-04 is not responding to directory service requests' because of the above issue.

GlennCameron

ASKER

Orginal question was answered, I am going to log another question related to the dns problem

Michael Pfister

Tanx for the points and sorry for not coming back to your question, have been offline...

Michael Pfister

regarding dns:
check the follwing kb article http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;825036

try issuing a

ipconfig /registerdns

on SRV-04.

Hope it helps,

Michael