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Domain Controller Upgrades

Hello!

I have 4 DC's to upgrade.

DC1 - Server 2003 -- FSMO: Domain Naming Role -- DHCP & DNS Secondary
DC2 - Server 2008 R2 -- DHCP & Primary DNS
DC3 - Server 2003 -- FSMO: Schema master, PDC, Infrastructure, RID
DCX - Server 2008 R2

I would like to get all of the DC's up to Windows Server 2012. I know I have to get the Server 2003's up to 2008 R2 first as well.

My issue is I am unsure of how to do the upgrade and preserve the other roles on the servers. In-place upgrades are always an option, but seem to work sometimes and other times don't.

So would I need to pass off the DNS roles to other servers somehow along with the DHCP?
Everything is actively being used, so I'd like to find a plan with as little downtime as possible.

I'm open to any and all suggestions.

Thanks for any help!

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Brad Bouchard

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M A

Do 2 servers at a time. transfer fsmo roles and upgrade the servers.

after upgrade check your event viewer for any replication errors. if you have exchange point exchange to the new fsmo holder.

if replication is ok and transferred back fsmo roles shutdown the other servers for a day to check for errors.

if there is no problem do the same for the remaining servers

SOLUTION

Brad Bouchard

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lanits

ASKER

So I should be safe to assume that when I demote a DC with dcpromo that the AD integrated DNS will not be removed with it?

Brad Bouchard

Correct, you have to manually remove the DNS role from the server after demotion.