Step by Step guide to migrating FSMO Roles from Windows Server 2012 r2 to Windows Server 2016

 Migrating FSMO Roles from Windows Server 2012 R2 to Windows Server 2016: A Step-by-Step Guide


Certainly! Below is a step-by-step guide for migrating FSMO (Flexible Single Master Operation) roles from Windows Server 2012 R2 to Windows Server 2016. This guide is designed to help you smoothly transition these roles, ensuring the stability and functionality of your Active Directory environment. 


Introduction

Migrating FSMO roles is a critical task when upgrading your Active Directory infrastructure. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of migrating FSMO roles from Windows Server 2012 R2 to Windows Server 2016. Follow these steps carefully to ensure a seamless transition.


Step 1: Verify Current FSMO Role Holders

 1. Open Command Prompt: Open Command Prompt with administrative privileges on the Windows Server 2012 R2 machine.

2. Check FSMO Roles: Type `netdom query fsmo` and press Enter to verify which server currently holds the FSMO roles.

 

Step 2: Prepare Active Directory Schema

 1. Insert Windows Server 2016 Installation Media: Insert the Windows Server 2016 installation media into the 2012 R2 server.

2. Run ADPrep: Navigate to the Support\Adprep folder on the installation media. Run the following commands:

   - `adprep /forestprep`

   - `adprep /domainprep`

   - `adprep /domainprep /gpprep`

3. Wait for Replication: Allow time for the changes to replicate throughout the Active Directory infrastructure.

 

Step 3: Install Windows Server 2016

 1. Install Windows Server 2016: Install Windows Server 2016 on the new hardware or virtual machine.

2. Join to the Domain: Join the Windows Server 2016 machine to the existing domain as a member server.

3. Update and Patch: Ensure the new server is fully updated with the latest patches and updates.

 

Step 4: Transfer FSMO Roles

 1. Open Command Prompt: Open Command Prompt with administrative privileges on the Windows Server 2016 machine.

2. Transfer FSMO Roles: Use the following commands to transfer each FSMO role:

   - Schema Master: `ntdsutil -> roles -> connections -> connect to server [Server Name] -> q -> transfer schema master`

   - Domain Naming Master: `ntdsutil -> roles -> connections -> connect to server [Server Name] -> q -> transfer naming master`

   - Infrastructure Master: `ntdsutil -> roles -> connections -> connect to server [Server Name] -> q -> transfer infrastucture master`

   - RID Master: `ntdsutil -> roles -> connections -> connect to server [Server Name] -> q -> transfer rid master`

   - PDC Emulator: `ntdsutil -> roles -> connections -> connect to server [Server Name] -> q -> transfer pdc`

3. Verify Role Transfer: Run `netdom query fsmo` on the Windows Server 2016 machine to confirm the roles have been transferred successfully.

 

Step 5: Verify Replication and Functionality

 1. Check Replication: Use Active Directory tools to ensure that replication is occurring correctly between the servers.

2. Verify Functionality: Test user logins, group policies, and other critical functions to confirm that the new server is functioning as expected.

 

Step 6: Decommission Windows Server 2012 R2

 1. Ensure Redundancy: Confirm that all services are running smoothly on the Windows Server 2016 machine.

2. Demote Windows Server 2012 R2: Use `dcpromo` to demote the Windows Server 2012 R2 machine from being a domain controller.

3. Remove from Domain: After demotion, remove the Windows Server 2012 R2 machine from the domain.

4. Clean-up DNS: Remove any DNS records associated with the decommissioned server.

 

Conclusion

 By following these steps carefully, you can successfully migrate FSMO roles from Windows Server 2012 R2 to Windows Server 2016. Remember to back up your Active Directory database and system state before starting the migration process. This ensures that you can revert to a stable state in case of any unforeseen issues.

 

Happy migrating!

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