Current Environment:
Location A
Site A
Primary DC with FSMO roles: Windows 2008 Standard x86
Secondary DC: Windows 2008 Standard x86
Forest and Domain Functional Level: Windows 2008 (NOT R2)
Windows 2003 Enterprise DFSR Server (fileshare local to VM)
NetApp Filer
Location B
SiteB
DC: Windows 2008 Standard x86
Windows 2003 Enterprise DFSR Server (fileshare local to VM)
NetApp Filer<o:p></o:p>
Location C
SiteC
DC: Windows 2008 Standard x86
Windows 2003 Enterprise DFSR Server (fileshare local to VM)
Location D
SiteD
DC: Windows 2008 R2 x64
QNAP CIFS Share.
Note: Currently nothing is being replicated to this server.
VMware ESXi 5.0 hosts.
REFERENCE:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2013/04/05/safely-virtualizing-dfsr.aspx
QUESTION:
Can someone please explain to me the safest upgrade path from Windows 2003 Enterprise (Windows 2000 Domain Mode) to Windows 2012 DFSR without causing any problems and losing any files?
I was thinking of spinning up a new VM, installing Windows Server 2012, add DFSR role, and then add that server to the replication at Location A, then go to Location B, and perform the same procedure, etc. That way, the files will just replicate over to a clean OS with plenty of hard drive space. I'd like to ensure that I do not lose any data or break DFSR in my upgrade attempts.
I greatly appreciate any assistance that can be given...