I have an issue at a client site which I need to try to resolve. The client has a Server 2003 DC, which when we attempt to join a new computer to the domain, the join fails. The error (which I do not have in front of me, sorry) involves a problem with the Global Catalog. Due to other issues with the existing server, we are looking at removing and replacing the existing DC with a new DC.
My question is, how can we go about transferring the existing Domain information (users, GPOs, etc) to the new DC? If the existing DC were working correctly, this would be a trivial task, join the new system, promote it to a DC, let replication happen, transfer the various Domain roles, done.
I'm thinking that possibly the following might work, but I'd like to confirm:
- Backup the System State of the existing DC
- Shut down the existing DC
- Connect the new server, install the AD Role
- Promote it to be a DC, keeping the domain name the same
- Go into Directory Services Restore mode, and restore the System State
- Go to each workstation and run the "Network ID" wizard to "rejoin" them to the Domain
Should this work? Or is there a simpler method?
Thank you,
Jason A.
Jason A.