Can you change the domain of a windows server from one to another

Question

Hello, I'm trying to create a new active directory/DHCP/DNS server separate from our current server. From my understanding, I can either migrate everything or recreate it from scratch. If I wanted to recreate it from scratch and rebuild everything, is all I need to do to ensure a seamless transition without creating a bunch of conflicts putting the new server on a separate domain, and then when I'm ready rename it to the original domain and just promote it? My goal is to keep the same domain name going forward.

Answer 1

Hi @Ethan Davani

Creating a new domain and migrating all users and computers is a complicated task and requires a service outage.

If your goal is to keep the same domain name and migrate the domain controllers to a new server seamlessly, the simplest method is to promote the new server as a domain controller and demote the old controller of domain.

In my opinion, the best method is to follow this approach:

Promote new server as an additional domain controller

• Switch FSMO roles to the new domain controller
• If the domain controller is used as a DNS resolver on client workstations and servers, it must be modified by the new server
• Check AD health and replication status
• Demote the old domain controller

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