DHCP server migration from server Windows 2008 R2 to server 2012 R2 with Exporting and Importing the DHCP Database

You can use this procedure to move a DHCP database from one server computer (the source server) to another server computer (the destination server).

Member of the DHCP Administrators group on the source and destination DHCP servers is the minimum required to complete this procedure.

To complete this we need follow this steps:

• Export configuration from Windows 2008 r2 server
• Install new Windows 2012 r2 server, connect to domain and install DHCP role
• Stop DHCP service on Windows 2008 r2 server
• Import configuration to Windows 2012 r2 server

 

Our Windows server 2008 r2 DHCP server look like below:

To export  DHCP database and configuration open command prompt as Administrator and type commands below:

netsh

dhcp

server

export C:\dhcp2008.dat all

As you see DHCP database file exported:

Install new Windows 2012 r2 server, connect to domain and install DHCP role on the destination DHCP server and Log on to the destination DHCP server.

Copy this file to destination windows server 2012 r2 server :

Verify that the DHCP service is started on the destination DHCP server.

Stop DHCP service on old windows server 2008R2 server:

DHCP server stopped:

After that we can import DHCP database to new installed DHCP server. Open command prompt as administator and type commands below:

netsh

dhcp

server

import C:\dhcp2008.dat all

After imported database we need to refresh to see new configurations:

That is all. We moved a DHCP database and configuration from a server that is running Windows Server 2008 r2 to another server that is running Windows Server 2012 R2: