Many IT companies are migrating their Domain Servers to the latest Windows 2016 Server from Windows 2012R2. Windows 2016 Server OS is now available with new features. Once OS migration is completed, we need to migrate the Active Directory FSMO roles from Windows 2012R2 to Windows 2016 server. Active Directory FSMO roles migration is quite easy using Ntdsutil.exe command. This document describes how to use the Ntdsutil utility command to migrate the Flexible Single Master Operations (FSMO) roles.
FSMO Roles:
FSMO stands for Flexible Single Master Operations, and FSMO roles help you prevent conflicts in your Active Directory which serves as its main purpose.
There are Five roles in FSMO:
1: Schema Master
2: Domain Naming Master
3: Infrastructure Master
4: RID(Relative ID) Master
5: PDC Emulator Master
Schema Master and Domain Naming Master are used for Forest wide Roles and Infrastructure Master, RID Master, and PDC Emulator Master are used for Domain Wide Roles.
Below screenshots show Windows 2012 R2 server machine details.
FS.com Domain configured on Windows 2012_R2 server.
We created three OU (Highlighted) in Windows 2012_R2 active directory and added three users in each OUs.
In Powershell as administrator, type netdom query fsmo. This will list down the FSMO roles and its current owner.
For Windows 2016 server already added in existing FS.com Domain.
Administrator needs to log in to Windows 2012 server and go to command prompt and type ntdsutil and press enter.
Then type roles press enter.
It goes to FSMO Maintenance prompt and now needs to connect the destination server(Test2.FS.com)
Type connections and enter in the prompt asking server connections details. Enter the destination server details and press enter.
Now connected to destination server test2.fs.com ( Windows 2016 server)
And now quit the connections TAB, type quit and press enter.
Type Help in fsmo maintenance prompt, it displays command/syntax to transfer the fsmo roles.
Displayed above screenshot, need to transfer the last 5 roles to 2016 server.
Infrastructure Master:
First, we can transfer infrastructure master.Type Transfer Infrastructure master and press enter, there is one pop display and asking for confirmation, press yes.
Once Infrastructure master transfer is completed, you have to check with Windows 2016 server in Windows PowerShell with the help of Netdom query fsmo. There are changes in Infrastructure master domain.
The same way we transfer the other Roles to Windows 2016 server as mentioned below.
Domain Naming Master:
In Windows 2016 server:
PDC Emulator:
In Windows 2016:
RID Master:
In Windows 2016:
Schema Master:
In Windows 2016:
Windows 2016 Active Directory:
Verified with user login credentials and working fine.
Conclusion:
Microsoft Windows Server 2016 includes several new features and numerous enhancements in virtualization, cloud, storage and security. For Active Directory, FSMO Migration from Windows 2012 R2 to Windows 2016 using ntdsutil command is quite easy and enhancing.
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