Migrating DHCP from Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008

Migrating DHCP from Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008 is easier than migrating from earlier versions of Windows. This procedure assumes that the existing DHCP server is running on Windows Server 2003 and that you’ve already installed the DHCP server role on your Windows Server 2008 server. (Note: IPv6 DHCP capability is not discussed in this column.)

Follow these steps:

1. Start a command prompt on the Windows Server 2003 DHCP server.

2. At the prompt, type netsh dhcp server export C:\w2k3-dhcp.txt all.

3. Copy w2k3-dhcp.txt to the root of the C: volume on your new server.

4. On the new Windows Server 2008 DHCP server, start a command prompt.

5. At the prompt, type netsh dhcp server import c:\dhcpdatabase.txt all.

6. Start the DHCP administrative console and verify that your scopes and configurations made their way to your new server.

Once the migration is complete, you’ll need to do some tidying up within the DHCP console. Open the DHCP console from the Administrative Tools folder and reconcile all scopes by clicking Action | Reconcile All Scopes. If any leases are found that need to be reconciled, click Reconcile to synchronize the DHCP Registry and Active Directory settings.

Verify that your DHCP server is operating properly by opening the DHCP console and checking your configuration, as shown in Figure E.

Figure E

Once the scope shows the Status is Active, all is well.

Note: Editing the registry is risky, so be sure you have a verified backup before saving any changes