Migrating DHCP server from 2003 to 2008R2

So I'm in the process of migrating all AD services from 2003 to 2008R2, currently I have a 2003 SP2 x86 server hosting AD, DHCP, DNS, and RRAS.  After adprepping the domain, I was able to promote a 2008R2 server to a DC, and now I have to move all the existing services, including FMSO roles to the new 2008R2 server.  After a quick google search, I found that MS has migration tools for PowerShell, this is NOT my idea of a good time ;)  very complex series of web pages and command..ugh.  Migrating DHCP as it turns out is not complicated, at all.

From the source server command prompt: netsh dhcp server export c:\dhcpdb
copy the file to the destination server
On the destination server, administrator command prompt: netsh dhcp server import c:\dhcpdb

Stop the DHCP service on the source, authorize and start on the new server. That is all there is to it.

Simple, for the win!

Moving VM's from VMWare ESXi to Hyper-V

I was amazed at how fairly painless this was. First I set up Hyper-V R2 core server, which is painless. Next I made 2 machines, 1 to run SCVMM, and 1 to run VMWare vCenter 4.1 (why these 2 can't get along on the same hardware is ridiculous!). SCVMM will import the vCenter server and treat the host and guest's as it's own. To convert the servers, first I tried running a V2V conversion, this process took an extremely long time for a 40GB server with about 30 GB worth of data. Next I attempted a P2V conversion, this cut the time down from serveral hours to about 1 hour for the same amount of data! It also was handy that it removed the VMWare tools AND installed the Hyper-V Integration stuff. Once the conversion was done, all that was left was to shut down the original VM and boot the newly converted one. Everything worked from the get go, including the NIC with static IP's and everything. I've since converted 2 production servers using the P2V method, but oddly enough, the first server running 2003 SP2 and Exchange 2003 SP2 weighing in around 230GB took roughly 1.5 times longer than a 2003 x64 running SQL 2005 weighing in at 270GB. I also took note that Hyper-V uses BITS over HTTP for moving data, which is extremely slow and there is not a way to use LAN or something faster....boo on Microsoft for that.

End of rambling.

I like free stuff

I'm a big fan of DIY stuff using whatever free utilities are available, so...I give you the SpamSnake powered by Ubuntu. http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-spamsnake-ubuntu-jeos-10.10-maverick-meerkat

It takes a while to do all that but the end result will be worth it. Why pay big $$$ for a premade box that does essentially the same thing with essentially the same tools?

Enjoy!