Prerequisites
- Windows 2008 operating System
- Windows 2016 Operating system
I will provide a step-by-step guide to creating a Active Directory migration from Windows 2008 to Windows 2016 with screenshots below.
In windows 2008, open server manager and select roles. Click “Add Roles” You need to install “DNS Server” role.
![Server Manager]()
In the Run box, type dcpromo. Click “Next”
![Active directory domain services installation Wizard]()
Click “Next”.
![Operating system compatibality]()
Select “Create a new domain a new forest” and click “Next”
![Existing forest]()
Type “sansbound.lan”and click ”Next”.
![Forest root domain]()
Select domain functional level as “Windows Server 2008” and click “Next”.
![Set forest functional level]()
Ensure that Domain functional level as “Windows server 2008” and click “Next”.
![Windows server]()
Click “Next”.
![Domain controller options]()
Click ”Yes”
![]()
Click “Next”
![Location]()
Type restore mode password.
Caution: You should not forget this password, it will be used while you are trying to restore objects of Active directory in Active directory restore mode.
![Administrator password]()
Click “Next”
![Summary]()
Click “Finish”
![Finish]()
Then, restart the Domain controller
![Restart system]()
You have created 3 users in AD.
![Users in AD]()
Go to the 2016 server. The Server should be a member of sansbound.lan.
Logged into the server as sansbound\administrator In Server Manager,
click “Add roles and features”
![Server Manager]()
Click “Next”
![Before you begin]()
Click “Next”
![Installation type]()
Click “Next”
![Destination server]()
Select Active Directory Domain Services and click the check box
![Select server roles]()
Click “Add features”
![Add features]()
Select “DNS Server” and check the box
![DNS Server]()
Click “Add features”.
![Add features for DNS server]()
Ensure that “Active directory Domain Services” and “DNS” roles are selected. Then click “Next”.
![Active directory Domain Services]()
Click ”Next”.
![.NET Framework features]()
Click “Next”
![AD DS]()
Click “Next”
![DNS Server]()
Click “Install”.
![Confirm installation selections]()
Click “Close”
![Installation progress]()
Click “Promote this server to a domain controller”
![Server manager dashboard]()
Select “Add a domain controller to an existing domain” and click “Next”.
![Development configuration]()
Click “Next”.
![Domain controller options]()
Click “Next”.
![DNS Options]()
Specify Install From Media (IFM) Options C11.sansbound.lan And click “Next”
![Additional options]()
Click ”Next”.
![Paths]()
Click ”Next”.
![Preparation options]()
Click ”Next”.
![Review options]()
Click “Install”.
![Prequisties check]()
It will be rebooted automatically once ADC has been installed.
Go to C1.sansbound.lan (Win 2016 server)
In the Command prompt, Type netdom query fsmo
![Command prompt]()
Type ntdsutil and press enter
![Type ntdsutil]()
Type activate instance ntds And press enter
![activate instance ntds]()
Type, roles, and press enter
![Type, roles,]()
Type connections And press enter
![Type connections]()
Type connect to server c1.sansbound.lan And press enter.
![connect to server c1.sansbound.lan]()
Type, quit, And press enter.
![Type, quit,]()
Type, Transfer schema master, And press enter. Then Click “Yes|
![Type, Transfer schema master]()
![Click “Yes|]()
Type Transfer Naming Master And press enter.
![Transfer Naming Master]()
Click ”Yes
![yes]()
You can see the role has been transferred.
![Role transferred]()
Type Transfer PDC And press enter. Then click “Yes”.
![Type Transfer PDC]()
Type Transfer RID master And press enter.
![Transfer RID master]()
Click “Yes”
![Yes]()
Type Transfer Infrastructure master And press enter.
![Transfer Infrastructure master]()
Click “Yes”
![Yes]()
Quit from ntds util by quit command twice.
Type Netdom query fsmo And press enter,
You are able to see all roles are transferred to C1.sansbound.lan
![transferred to C1.sansbound.lan]()
Conclusion
This article taught us how to migrate the Active Directory from Windows 2008 to Windows 2016. If you have any questions, please contact me.