A Guide on Migrating Server 2008 R2 DC with Server 2019

At the 9 to 5 job, we received two new Dell PowerEdge R240 servers. These servers were to replaced our current Domain Controllers which are PowerEdge 860s. The PowerEdge 860 from Dell are great servers, but there hard drive controller is iSCSI.

The game plan was simple, but I wanted to test everything out within a virtual environment before touching the real machines. First, I created two VMs with Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 and made them Domain Controllers. I then located the primary server that holds FSMO.

I added two more servers into the mix and installed Windows Server 2019 and I Domain joined them into the Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Active Directory. These two machines are the PowerEdge R240. Again, we’re testing everything out within a VM environment before doing anything with the real servers in the LAN room.

I also have a Windows 10 machine added to the mix to make sure I’m able to log into the Active Directory once I cut over to the new servers.

You will need to raise the domain and forest functional level on your Windows Server 2008 R2 Domain Controller server.

Within the new servers that are running Windows Server 2019. Install Active Directory Domain Services and promote the new servers to a Domain Controller.

When you are finish promoting both servers to a Domain Controller the servers will automatically reboot and be added to the Domain Controller OU.

You need to move the FSMO roles over by using the following PowerShell cmdlet: Move-ADDirectoryServerOperationMasterRole

Then run DCPROMO on your old Domain Controllers. In my case they were the servers running Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.

Continue to run DCPROMO on the old servers until the Domain Controller OU only shows the new Domain Controllers.

I recommend watching the full detailed video because these are only highlight on migrating Server 2008 R2 Domain Controller with Windows Server 2019.