There is come a time, when your old DHCP server (maybe a desktop server) is going to retire, and you need to transfer all your scopes to a new hardware.

Some people will say, that is easier just to create the scopes and “live and let die”, but we know the best solution to the corporation is to migrate the scopes to avoid conflicts and reservation faults.

So how do you do this?

In NT and 2000 servers you use an application called DHCPEXIM(dhcp export import) its very easy to use:

1- Install on the machine where you want to export the scopes;

2- Run it, select the scopes and click on export

3- Get the saved file, transfer to the new machine;

4- Install the dhcpexim on the new machine

5- Install the DHCP server without any configuration

6- Run dhcpexim and import the scopes

7- Authorize the dhcp server

Now on 2003 servers the dhcpexim does not work, you have to use the netsh shell to transfer the scopes.

Use this command to export all scopes from the source machine:

netsh dhcp server export C:\dhcp.txt all

Install the dhcp server on the new machine and run this import command:

netsh dhcp server import C:\dhcp.txt all

After that authorize the dhcp server and that´s it!

The main objective in transferring the scopes in opposite of just reinstall everything is to preservate the reserves, and the states of the leases. I know XP and 2000 can avoid some kinds of conflict ip and dhcp but you are never sure what kind of equipment you have on all your network (palms, printers, etc).

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