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Accepted
NickG
Asked: 2014-05-13 02:34:28 +0800 CST

How can I upgrade an ancient Win 2000 based domain controller to Windows 2008/2012? (by replacement)

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We're running Windows 2000 as our domain controller (!) and a separate backup domain controller, but as the PDC is 12 years old we would like to replace it. We have a couple of 2008 R2 and Win 2012 (virtual) servers in the office used for other functions which we would like to use as the PDC/BDC.

Is there a way to migrate the domain controller function from the Win 2000 server to the Win 2012 server or would we have to go via 2003 or 2008? Is it a simple matter of adding the new servers to the domain and somehow promoting them to be the primary domain controller or is it more complicated? Overall it's a small network with around 12 computers. Unfortunately I wasn't the one to set up the network in the first place so I'm not totally familiar with domains and Active Directory etc. Any help or advice would be appreciated.

windows-server-2008

1 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    As a Windows 2012 DC is not supported in a Windows 2000 Domain, you need to go through Windows 2003/2008/2008 R2 first. (The forest/domain functional level needs to be 2003)

    So you would:

    • Install a 2003/2008/2008 R2 DC
    • Switch all Roles there
    • Decommission the 2000 DC
    • Raise functional level
    • Do the same with 2012/2012R2
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