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How can I configure a backup server? <br />
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And yes, we'll eventually give it to a school.
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Create a file share on it. Let other server use this location as a storage for their backups
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Should I demote the old server and join it to the new server's domain?
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yes it would be easier to do the configuration however I don't think you can join a windows foundation &nbsp;unless it is a DC itself ...<br />
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can you format it and install another OS ?
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I doubt it. &nbsp;It's not feasible.
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Not feasible from which perspective?
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What are the hardware specs of the old server?
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That's fine. &nbsp;I'll just demote it. &nbsp;Is there a specific way to demote it? &nbsp;My biggest concern is that I won't have a username/password to log onto it once it's back to being a basic server without AD/DS.
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Depending on it's hardware, you could use it for something else.
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<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
We just installed a new server in our office and I'm not sure what to do with the old one. &nbsp;It still runs perfectly fine but I'd like to know if I should demote it or not. &nbsp;I was thinking about joining it to the new domain controller but how should I do it? &nbsp;Would DCPromo do the job?<br />
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The old server is 2008 Foundation, the new one is 2012 Essentials.<br />
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Thanks.
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We just installed a new server in our office and I'm not sure what to do with the old one.  It still runs perfectly fine but I'd like to know if I should demote it or not.  I was thinking about joining it to the new domain controller but how should I do it?  Would DCPromo do the job?

The old server is 2008 Foundation, the new one is 2012 Essentials.


Thanks.

Best way to configure an old server?

Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2, based on the Microsoft Vista codebase, is the last 32-bit server operating system released by Microsoft. It has a number of versions, including including Foundation, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web, HPC Server, Itanium and Storage; new features included server core installation and Hyper-V.

Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2012 is the server version of Windows 8 and the successor to Windows Server 2008 R2. Windows Server 2012 is the first version of Windows Server to have no support for Itanium-based computers since Windows NT 4.0. Windows Server 2012, now in its second release (Windows Server 2012 Release 2) includes Foundation, Essentials, Standard and Datacenter, and does not support IA-32 or IA-64 processors.

Windows Server 2012

The Microsoft Server topic includes all of the legacy versions of the operating system, including the Windows NT 3.1, NT 3.5, NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 and Windows Home Server versions.