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Change out a Primary Domain Controller with a new server

We have a Windows domain network with 10 servers. All servers are running Windows 2003 standard. We have a primary domain controller and a backup domain controller. Our primary domain controller is 8 years old and we are planning to take it offline and replace it with another server. The new PDC will have Windows 2008 standard. We need some type of procedure to remove the current PDC and slip the new one in. Active directory and global policies are the primary concern and need to be somehow brought over to the new server. Data backup is not a problem as we will use our normal backup procedure to handle that task.

We have over 100 users on the network and cannot setup new profiles on each end user workstation. How can we put in a new domain controller and have it be recognizable to all the PCs on the network? We do plan to keep the local domain name the same and the server name will be identical to the one it is replacing. Aside from those obvious things, what else needs to be done.

Thank you.

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Mike Kline

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Darius Ghassem

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Renato Montenegro Rustici

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Mike Kline

...well fully replicated unless we are talking about RODC's

You would also want to install DNS on the new box and make it a global catalog. All explained in the links Darius and I provided.

Thanks

Mike

Renato Montenegro Rustici

If I understood well, he will replace the domain controller. It wont be a RODC. But I forgot to mention the Global Catalog. Thanks.

PCNNY

ASKER

Thank you. Great info