Step by Step Domain migration procedure Server 2003 to Server 2012 r2

Dear Friends. 
finally End is near for Windows Server 2003 The Countdown begins
14 july 2015 

Migration ka kam badne walla hai dosto are you ready......!!!!mai to ready hoon !! Read step by step Domain migration procedure based on personal experience.

I had just Migrate my domain from server 2003 to server 2012 r2 environment, Without disturbing my 60+ domain user profile setting or data.

I did this in non business day that is Saturday and on next business day that is Monday  every think is working fine no user know that they just moved from Old server 2003 standard  to new server 2012 r2. hear I would like to mention that we purchase completely new  DC with server 2012 r2. 

I will explain step by step procedure to migrate Domain from  server 2003 to server server 2012 r2 .

Lets start. 

Scenario-: 

Old DC to be migrated 

OS -:Server 2003  

Server name -:  DC01 
IP-:10.100.0.1
Roll-: AD,DNS ,File server 
Domain name -: canitpro.com

 

New DC -: 

Os -: server 2012 r2 

server name -: DC2012

IP-: 10.100.0.2

roll-: New AD,DNS and File server(will be migrate from DC1)

Domain name -: canitpro.com

 Prerequisites -: 
You must have working experience on Doman ,

1. Download Windows Server 2012 R2. You also have the ability to complete this Step-By-Step in a virtual lab by downloading Hyper-V Server 2012 for free.
    
2. As a precaution, complete a full backup of your existing server.
    
3. Check the Schema version of AD DS (Before adprep) by running regedit, navigating to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\NTDS\Parameters and noting the current Schema version.

Step 1: Preparing your existing forest via the adprep command
 


On Windows Server 2003 DC, insert the Windows Server 2012 r2 DVD, then open command prompt and change directory to  d:\sources\adprerp directory. Here D:\ is my dvd rom drive. In your case do as appropriate. note: you need to log on to windows 2003 domain controller as enterprise admin to run these command.

Now run following command   

adprep/ forestprep 

After finishing forestprep run
 adprep/ domainprep
 


Now  Server DC1 is ready to migrate  



2. Install server 2012 r2 and make it to work as Backup domain controller (this is about to migrate server 2003 to 2012 r2 , we  assume that you know how to setup BDC)



3.Now we have server 2003 as  Primary domain controller and Server 2012 r2 as Backup domain controller.

Lets start Transferring the Flexible Single Master Operations (FSMO) Role

1. Open the Active Directory Users and Computers console on your new Windows Server 2012 R2 computer.
2. Right click your domain and select Operations Masters in the sub menu.
3. In the Operations Masters window, ensure the RID tab is selected.
4. Select the Change button.
   
   
5. Select Yes when asked about transferring the operations master role.
6. Once the operations master role has successfully transferred, click OK to continue.
7. Ensure the Operations Master box now shows your new 2012 R2 Windows Server.
8. Repeat steps 4 to 6 for the PDC and Infrastructure tabs.
9. Once completed, click Close to close the Operations Masters window.
10. Close the Active Directory Users and Computers window.

Changing the Active Directory Domain Controller 

1. Open the Active Directory Domains and Trusts console on your new Windows Server 2012 R2 computer.
2. Right click your domain and select Change Active Directory Domain Controller... in the sub menu.
3. In the Change Directory Server window, select This Domain Controller or AD LDS instance.
4. Select your new 2012 R2 Windows Server.
   
   
5. Click OK to continue.
6. Back in the Active Directory Domains and Trusts window, hover over the Active Directory Domains and Trusts found in the folder tree on the left hand side to ensure the server now reflects your new 2012 R2 Windows server.
7. Right click Active Directory Domains and Trusts found in the folder tree and select Operations Manager... in the sub menu.
8. In the Operations Master window, click Change to transfer the domain naming master role to the 2012 R2 Windows Server.
9. When asked if you are sure you wish to transfer the operations master role to a different computer, click Yes.
10. Once the operations master is successfully transferred, click OK to continue.
11. Click Close to close the Operations Master window.
12. Close the Active Directory Domains and Trusts console.

Changing the Schema Master

1. Open a command prompt in administration view on your new Windows Server 2012 R2 computer.
2. On the command prompt window, enter regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll and hit enter.
3. Once completed successfully, click OK to close the RegSvr32 window.
   
   
4. Close the command prompt.

Add the Active Directory Schema Console from MMC

1. Open a MMC console on your new Windows Server 2012 R2 computer.
2. Click File > Add/Remove Snap-in...
3. In the Add or Remove Snap-ins window, select Active Directory Schema and click the Add > button.
   
   
4. Click OK to continue.

Change the Schema Master

1. In the same MMC console, right click Active Directory Schema and select Change Active Directory Domain Controller... in the sub menu.
2. In the Change Directory Server window, select This Domain Controller or AD LDS instance.
3. Select your new 2012 R2 Windows Server.
4. Click OK to continue.
5. A warning will appear stating that the Active Directory Schema snap-in in not connected. Click OK to continue.
6. Hover over the Active Directory Schema folder in the folder tree to ensure the new Windows Server 2012 R2 computer is shown. 
7. Now right click Active Directory Schema and select Operations Master... in the sub menu.
8. In the Change Schema Master window, click Change to transfer the schema master role to the 2012 R2 Windows Server.
9. When asked if you are sure you wish to transfer the schema master role to a different computer, click Yes.
10. Once the schema master is successfully transferred, click OK to continue.
11. Click Close to close the Change Schema Master window.
12. In the MMC, click File > Exit.
13. When asked to save the console, click No.

 Once completed, open the Active Directory Users and Computers console to verify that the Active Directory database successfully replicated to your new Windows Server 2012 R2 computer.  Be aware that the database replication may take some time depending on the number of objects in Active Directory.
Removing the 2003 Windows Server from the Global Catalog Server

1. Open Active Directory Sites and Services on your new Windows Server 2012 R2 computer.
2. Expand the Sites folder, then the Default-First-Site-Name folder, then the Servers folder.
3. Expand both listed servers. One should be your new 2012 Windows Server and one should be you 2003 Windows Server.
4. Right click NTDS Settings found under your old 2003 Windows Server.
5. In the sub menu, select Properties.
6. Under the General Tab, unselect Global Catalog and then click the Apply button.
7. Click OK to continue.
8. Close the Active Directory Sites and Services window.
9. Verify that your new 2012 R2 Windows Server is running the FSMO role by opening the command prompt in Administrative view and running the following command: Netdom query fsmo.
10. In the Network and Sharing Center, be sure to change the Preferred DNS server to match the Alternate DNS server, then delete the IP address listed under the Alternate DNS server should it currently be pointed to the old 2003 Windows Server.

All that's left is to demote the old 2003 Windows server by first adding the new 2012 R2 Windows Server as the Primary DNS, followed by running DCPROMO to demote the old 2003 Windows server.  

Hope this will help you to migrate your DC  from server 2003 to server 2012 r2
Thank you !