DHCP Server migration from Server 2008 R2 To Server 2012 R2

DHCP Server Migration from Server 2008 R2 To Server 2012 R2

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, also known as DHCP, is used to automatically provide the Internet Protocol (IP) host with its IP address and other relevant configuration information such as the subnet mask, DNS, and default gateway. With Windows server 2003, the DHCP server role is integrated into the operating system. You can add this server role and can act as a DHCP host.

DHCP migration to a new server or Windows 2012R2 server is a straight forward process. First you need to back up the configurations and stop the DHCP service from the source server. Then, you install the DHCP server role in the new server and restore the backup.

Follow the detailed steps in below

Login to the 2008R2 DHCP server and review the DHCP configurations.

 Get a command prompt as elevated privileges and run the following command to back up the DHCP configurations to a file. 
Netsh Dhcp Server > export C:\dhcp\dhcpdata.dat all

 Login to the Windows server 2012R2 server and save the exported DHCP configurations file in C: drive. after that install DHCP Server role in Windows Server 2012 R2

Steps to Install DHCP role in 2012 R2 Server 

After successfully completed the installation, run the DHCP post configurations from the Server manager

 Use a domain admin user account for authorization 

 Login to the old 2008 R2 DHCP Server to Disable and stop the DHCP server service.

 Login to the new 2012R2 DHCP server and import the DHCP configurations, use the following command.
Netsh dhcp server > Import c:\dhcp\dhcpdata.dat all 

 Review the DHCP configurations and test the DHCP by renewing IP addresses. 

it's really simple migration process, and this migration would not have an impact to the live clients.