DHCP Server - Backup & restore Procedures

BACKUP & RESTORE OF DHCP SERVER

Manual DHCP server backup

You can also run backups manually through the DHCP management console. This feature can be useful if you intend to make major changes to your DHCP settings. You can back up the database to a location other than the default folder. Note that this won’t change the location of the regular automatic backups. This setting can only be changed in the Windows Registry with the BackupDatabasePath parameter.

DHCP restore

To restore the DHCP server, you have to first restore the DHCP backup folder %SystemRoot%\System32\dhcp\backup with your backup software, and then restore the DHCP database with the DHCP management console. This will restore all DHCP leases, reserved IP addresses, and configured DHCP options. I wouldn’t use the RSAT DHCP management console for this purpose. It is safer to log on to the server to do this kind of work.

MIGRATING DHCP SERVER VERSIONS.

Beginning the export process on Windows Server 2003

1. On the Windows 2003 DHCP server, navigate to a command prompt
2. Type the following Command: netsh
3. Type the following Command: DHCP
4. Type the following Command: server \\Name or IP Address
5. Type the following Command: export c:\w2k3DHCPdb all

Note You must have local administrator permissions to export the data.

Importing the DHCP database on Windows Server 2008 / Windows Server 2012

1. Copy the exported DHCP database file to the local hard disk of the Windows Server 2008-based computer. 
2. From within Server Manager, select Add roles and features
   
3. Select Role-based of featured-based installation and select Next.
4. On the Server Selection window, leave the default and select Next. When the Server Roles window opens, select DHCP. Select Add Features in the pop-up window, then select Next.
   
   
   
5. Once the DHCP install has been completed, select DHCP located in the Server Manager dashboard
6. Right click the designated DHCP server in the services pane, then select Stop.
7. Delete the DHCP.mdb file under c:\windows\system32\DHCP folder.
8. Return to DHCP located in the Server Manager dashboard
9. Right click the designated DHCP server in the services pane, then select Start.
10. Right-click on the bottom left hand side of the desktop screen to invoke the admin menu
11. Select Command Prompt (Admin) to open the cmd prompt using elevated privileges. 
12. Type the following Command: netsh
13. Type the following Command: DHCP
14. Type the following Command: server \\Name or IP Address
15. Type the following Command: import c:\w2k3DHCPdb
16. Close the command prompt when completed.
17. Return to DHCP located in the Server Manager dashboard.
18. Right click the designated DHCP server in the services pane, then select Restart.
19. Disable and remove DHCP from the Windows 2003 server.

Simply setup your scope options for your new Windows Server 2012 DHCP server and then Authorize it within your domain and the  migration is complete.