Active Directory Migration from Windows Server 2008 R2 to Windows Server 2012 R2
Friday, March 20, 2015
4:28 PM
Requirements:
- New VM machine with Windows Server 2012 R2 installed and up to date on it.
- ISO DVD copy of Windows 2012 R2 loaded on your 2008/R2 machine
First we’ll need to prepare the existing forest using the ADPREP command on the Windows 2012 R2 server DVD
You will have to insert the DVD on your 2008/R2 server and navigate to the following path
X:supportadprep
Then use the following command line
Adprep /forestprep
See the snapshot below
When this screen comes up, it’ll ask you to press C and enter to confirm the forest update. Click C and enter to continue and then it’ll show you the previous and next schema version
The process will continue to update the schema as in the below snapshot and it shouldn’t take time too
Here it has completed successfully and now we can move on to the next step.
Now you will have to join the 2012r2 VM machine that you have prepared to the existing DC 2008r2. after you do so you will have to promote this new 2012 server to an additional DC in the domain.
Open Server manager and add new ADDS role to this new server and follow the steps to add it as an additional DC.
When this finishes, the computer will automatically restarts.
Now you will have to start the Transferring of the FSMO from the 2008 R2 DC to the new one.
1- from ADUC on DC 2012r2 right click on Operations Masters
- Click on Change to the new DC and confirm OK to continue
Click Yes
We will have to do the same for the PDC and Infrastructure tabs
Note: make sure you close the firewall on both server for the transferring to be completed without issues
When you’ve made sure you have transferred all operation masters roles then close ADUC.
Mohammed Hamada