How to Migrate Windows 2000 Server Active Directory to Windows Server 2008

How to migrate Windows 2000 Server Active Directory to Windows Server 2008 then take a step further to Windows Server 2008 R2

Pre-requisites:-

1. This document only cover the steps to migrate Windows 2000 to Windows 2008 and Windows 2008 R2 Active Directory Domain Controller and assume that an Administrator already how to perform the dcpromo command to promote and demote Domain Controller.

Preparation:-

1. Copy adprep folder to Windows 2000 AD Server c:Temp or any folder you comfortable with. The adprep is located in <Windows2008 DVD>supportadprep. You must first migrate Windows 2000 AD to Windows 2008 first and then Windows Server 2008 R2 (because R2 is 64-Bit). Since Windows 2000 is 32-Bit thus you must copy from Windows 2008 x86 DVD.

2. Google to download and install dumpfsmos.exe or run dumpfsmos.cmd (see appendix) on Windows 2000 AD Server to find out which Domain Controller hold Schema, Naming Master, PDC, RID and Infrastructure role(s). If you have only one Windows 2000 Server AD, obviously this is the only server holds the above mentioned roles. This is important as you need to find out before you can run the adprep command on the server holding Schema and Infrastructure role(s) which may or may not be on the same server.

3. Set Windows 2000 Domain operation mode to Native Mode by launch the Active Directory Domains and Trusts (or Active Directory Users and Computers) -> right-click on Domain and select Properties, click Change Mode button -> click Yes and click OK or Apply

4. Install Support Tools from <Windows 2000 Server CD>SUPPORTTOOLSsetup.exe and launch Active Directory Replication Monitor to manually update and synchronize among the Domain Controller.

Consideration:-

1. Since Windows 2008 does not support upgrade from Windows 2000 (only Windows Server 2003 SP1 and above is upgradable), thus you must either reinstall Windows 2008 on BDC (demote first) or new Server with Windows Server 2008 (can be 32-Bit or 64-Bit)

2. If you plan to have Windows Server 2008 R2 which is 64-Bit server, please install Windows Server 2008 64-Bit on the existing or new hardware. Depending on the license you've purchased, it can be Standard or Enterprise edition of the Windows Server 2008.

3. After completed the adprep command (/forestprep, /domainprep and /rodcprep), allow time for synchronization among the Domain Controller or you can perform manual update for fast synchronization.

4. You must change Forest Functional Level to Windows 2003 for Windows Server 2008 R2 Active Directory by launch the Active Directory Domains and Trusts -> right-click on Active Directory Domains and Trusts and select "Raise Forest Functional Level…", depending on your strategy, select either Windows Server 2003 or