Migrating DHCP from Server 2003 to Server 2012 R2

Once you’ve ensured that you’ve documented your existing DHCP server configuration, you can migrate the DHCP server database from a Windows Server 2003 host to Windows Server 2012 R2.

The trick is to use netsh rather than the console. If you use DHCP console to attempt to migrate between the two operating systems, you’ll hit an error and the migration will fail.

To export the DHCP database from a computer running Windows Server 2003, create a folder named c:export, open a command prompt using an account that has administrator privileges and issue the following commands:

NetshDHCPServer \Export c:export2k3dhcp-database all

Performing this task will create a file in the c:export folder named 2k3dhcp-database

Copy this file to the computer running Windows Server 2012 R2 that will function as the new DHCP server. You’ll need to install the DHCP server role on this computer and authorize the DHCP server in Active Directory before performing the following actions.

Open an elevated command prompt and run the following commands (this assumes you’ve copied the file to a folder named c:import)

Net stop DHCPserverDel c:windowssystem32DHCPDHCP.mdbNet start DHCPserverNetshDHCPServer \Import c:import2k3dhcp-databaseExitNet stop DHCPserverNet start DHCPserver

You can find out more about migrating DHCP databases form Windows Server 2003 using the following Microsoft Support article: https://support.microsoft.com/kb/962355/en-us?wa=wsignin1.0