Restoring System State from Server2003 32-bit to Server2003 64-bit

[The_Unbeliever]

Hi

Is it possible to backup the system state on 32-bit server2003, and restore it on server2003 64bit?

Or what other method can I use to ensure smooth migration of the DC?

What we want to do is to upgrade our current 32-bit server2003 and exchange2003 to 64-bit server2003 and exchange2003 as well. This PC is the current DC.

Regards

Libs

 

[Saajid]

That sounds like a question for the brainiacs at ServerFault.com. It's completely free, brilliant site, run by the geek community for the geek community (System/Network Admin's in particular).

UPDATE: Fixed typo in URL

 

[The_Unbeliever]

oy toxicwazte - you meant serverfault.com?

 

[Saajid]

oy toxicwazte - you meant serverfault.com?

Yeah.. my bad. Fixed it now. Did you find a solution to your problem as yet?

My initial guesses would say that it is not possible....

 

[The_Unbeliever]

waiting for my question to come up at serverfault.com

will have to see what the clever guys says

my money is on creating another DC, demoting it to a BDC, connect it to the domain, wait for database to sync, and then promote it to a DC.

 

[Saajid]

I'm no expert, but isn't the "state" of the domain and network stored in the Active Directory?? All you have to do is export the AD from the 32bit machine to the 64bit machine, and change the DC to the 64bit machine.

my money is on creating another DC, demoting it to a BDC, connect it to the domain, wait for database to sync, and then promote it to a DC.

The above sounds like it would work. The AD would be implicitly/indirectly duplicated/exported from the 32bit machine to the 64bit machine..

 

[Conradl]

Do not use a backup to migrate AD; rather:

Configure new server, and DCPROMO.
Move FSMO roles to new machine.
Downgrade old server, although it is a good idea to have two DCs....