Migrating DHCP from a 32 bit W2k3 server to W2k8 64 bit server

This process is achieved by dumping the configuration of the 2003 server to a script and then executing the script on the 2008 server.

The commands to perform this task are:

 

Netsh dhcp server dump > dhcp-script.netsh on the 2003 server

 

And then

 

Netsh exec dhcp-script.netsh on the 2008 host site root server

 

 

 

 

 

The text script file will need to be edited by replacing the IP address of the 2003 server with the 2008 server IP address.

RODC replication – some thoughts

Are changes instantly replicated from a domain controller ?

 Depends on the replication schedule set between sites. Generally, no.The time it takes to replicate changes to an RODC depends on where the changes have been made and how fast they get replicated to the RODC. Changes made on a distant site can take more time to replicate to the RODC than changes made in the same site/the site next to the RODC.

 Can the replication time be changed ?

AD Sites and Services will allow you to configure your replication topology, frequency and any other scheduling. The topology for AD Sites and Services is more or less the same as in Windows 2003

I order to reduce the amount bandwitdth used then the replication traffic should be configured to only allow inbound replication, no local changes, and therefore no outbound replication. RODCs can replicate from writeable DCs.

The most important aspect is replication of password changes. That is covered by this article:  

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc730883.aspx    

What operations fail if the WAN is offline, but the RODC is online in the branch office?

If the RODC cannot connect to a writable domain controller running Windows Server 2008 in the hub, the following branch office operations fail

• Password changes

• Attempts to join a computer to a domain

• Computer rename

• Authentication attempts for accounts whose credentials are not cached on the RODC

• Group Policy updates that an administrator might attempt by running the gpupdate /force command
  

  What operations succeed if the WAN is offline, but the RODC is online in the branch office?

  If the RODC cannot connect to a writable domain controller running Windows Server 2008 in the hub, the following branch office operations succeed:

• Authentication and logon attempts, if the credentials for the resource and the requestor are already cached.

•  Local RODC server administration performed by a delegated RODC server administrator.

 

Group Policy Preferences – better than scripting

 

Short write-up about what Group Policy Preferences can do for you (which previously were done using scripting)

http://www.frickelsoft.net/blog/downloads/10%20things%20Group%20Policy%20Preferences%20does%20better.pdf