Domain Controller Restore: System State vs Full

Question

Can a Domain Controller system state backup be used to restore in the following scenarios: (1) Restoring to the same server after completely re-imaging the machine and re-installing the OS from scratch. (2) Restoring to a different server If not, will a Full backup work in either of those scenarios?

Answer 1

I'd go with a full bare metal, but the much simpler / safer method is to stand up another one (temporary) to hold the roles.

The two prerequisites to introducing the first 2019 domain controller are that domain functional level needs to be 2008 or higher and older sysvol FRS replication needs to have been migrated to DFSR
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Storage-at-Microsoft/Streamlined-Migration-of-FRS-to-DFSR-SYSVOL/ba-p/425405

I'd use dcdiag / repadmin tools to verify health correcting all errors found before starting any operations. Then stand up the new 2019, patch it fully, license it, join existing domain, add active directory domain services, promote it also making it a GC (recommended), transfer FSMO roles over (optional), transfer pdc emulator role (optional), use dcdiag / repadmin tools to again verify health, when all is good you can decommission / demote old one.

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Answer 2

Hi,

**(1) Restoring to the same server after completely re-imaging the machine and re-installing the OS from scratch. **

Yes , you can but you have to keep the same operating system version:

restore-domain-controller-from-backup

(2) Restoring to a different server If not, will a Full backup work in either of those scenarios?

It's recommended to use the same hardware, if it's not the case you have to inject the drivers of new server during the restoration.

The use of virtual machine is easier when you keep the same virtualization technologies

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