Replace WS2003 domain controller for WS2012 domain controller

Question

Hi, I think that is a common problem but I haven't found anythink exactly like this, only something similar, but I have a lot of doubts yet.
The thing is that I have a network with two domain controllers:
WS2003     - 192.168.0.1, who is the first domain controller I created and is also a file sharing server
WS2008R2 - 192.168.0.8, who is a  new domain controller I added one year ago.
Now, I want to replace the first one, keeping the second. One.
I thinking of removing the first one and replace it with a new machine (WS2012) with the same IP and name host. I need the same host because clients are pointing to it to get the shared files.
My main fear is that clients get some error related with trust relationship and I will have to rejoin them one by one to the domain.
As I have another domain controller, Will the global catalog of the new machine be synchronized automaticly with the WS2008R2 domain controller?
Do I need to demote the old domain controller before add the new one?
Thanks a lot

Answer 1

Hi Tomas,
As pointed by Burakm you should have an additional file server and should avoid using a Domain controller which has priviledged access, to share files. This puts you at a security risk.
Regarding the requirement of old host name:
Here is something that would let you keep a different servername and IP, yet allow your users to connect to the old hostname and access the share. Use CNAME records of old server to point it to the new hostname.
How to Configure Windows Machine to Allow File Sharing with DNS Alias
You might also look for Distributed File System Shares.
http://blogs.technet.com/b/josebda/archive/2009/06/26/how-many-dfs-n-namespaces-servers-do-you-need.aspx
NOTE- You can't run in-place upgrade of a 2003 to 2012 DC.
Regards,
Satyajit
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