How to Migrate configured DHCP from Windows Server 2008R2 to Server 2016

Here’s how  you do it:

• Log on to the old/existing DHCP server.
• Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, right-click, and then “Run as Administrator”.
• On the Action menu, click Backup.
• Type
  
  PowerShell

  netsh dhcp server export C:\Users\yourusername\Desktop\dhcp.txt all

  1	netsh dhcp server export C:\Users\yourusername\Desktop\dhcp.txt all

  
  and then press ENTER.
• Install the DHCP role on the new (2016) DHCP server using Server Manager.
• Copy the exported DHCP text file to the desktop of the new DHCP server.
• Verify that the DHCP service is installed and started on the new DHCP server.
• Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, right-click, and then “Run as Administrator”.
• Type
  
  PowerShell

  netsh dhcp server import C:\Users\yourusername\Desktop\dhcp.txt all

  1	netsh dhcp server import C:\Users\yourusername\Desktop\dhcp.txt all

  
  and then press ENTER
• Open DHCP console on the new server.
• In the console tree, right-click DHCP.
• Select “Authorize”.

If your old DHCP server is in the same network/subnet as the new DHCP server, you’ll notice that the old DHCP server has been de-authorized automatically. This is to prevent two DHCP servers from handing out conflicting addresses.

Check to make sure that your new DHCP has all of the same settings, options, scopes, and reservations set as the current one. If done correctly, everything should have been brought over.

Easy right 🙂