Migrate Active Directory Services from Windows 2008 to 2012 R2 Part 3

Without even noticing we are already at the final stage of this article. Final part is about moving the active Roles from the old Windows 2008 server to the new Windows 2012 R2.

We can issue the command “netdom query fsmo” as a domain administrator to verify who owns these specific Roles as per screenshot below

At this point we need in turn  to:

1. Type “NTDSUtil” and press enter to get in the context

2. Type “Roles” and press enter

3. This will prompt the “fsmo maintenance” mode

4. Type “connections” and press enter

5. This will prompt “server connection” mode

6. Type “connect to server NewServer FQDN Name” (eg. win12r2.domain.com)

7. This will show server is conneted with current credentials

8. Type “quit” and press enter

9. Type “?” To get a list of supported commands

10. Type “Transfer Schema Master” and select “Yes” when prompted

11. Type “Transfer Domain Naming Master” and select “Yes” when prompted

12. Type “Transfer PDC” and select “Yes” when prompted

13. Type “Transfer RID Master” and select “Yes” when prompted

14. Type “Transfer Infrastructure Master” and select “Yes” when prompted

When completed steps from 10-14 just type “quit” to exit the NTDSUtil context menu

By re-issuing the “netdom query fsmo” will now show the new roles have been moved to the new Windows Server 2012 R2

We can uninstall the old Domain Controller with the handy Dcpromo command on the old Windows 2008 server

Let’s just leave this option unchecked

This option depends on your current environment. If unsure leave this unchecked as DNS delegation pointers can be deleted at a later time

At the end of the Wizard a reboot is required to clean up the AD DS binaries on the server. It is also recommended to dis-join the machine from the domain shouldn’t this be required anymore or re-joined to deploy other enterprise services

As a result:

• the Active Directory Users and Computers will now show the new Domain Controller only

• the Name Servers in the DNS server properties  will now show the new Domain Controller only

• the old server can be removed from the Active Directory Sites and Services

This concludes the steps about migrating a Windows 2008 Domain Controller to Windows 2012 R2