hey all, just want to get some feedback on my plan.
Current Environment 50 employees:
1 single x86 2003 server hosting: DHCP, DNS, AD, File/printer services.
My goal is to move off 2003 because EOL is coming up. Also would like a second AD/DNS for redundancy purposes.
Plan:
Purchase new primary server as a vm host with local storage. Install Server 2012 with AD/DNS services as a VM inside. Add this new server to the domain transfer FSMO roles. Also transfer data and file/print shares. Redundancy done. As I understand 2012 includes 2 virtual instance rights so this DC will be utilizing one of these licenses. I'll have one spare VM license left over.
Purchase a refurbished secondary physical server running 2012, join it to the domain with AD/DNS role. Purpose this as the backup DC
All in... this redundant and up to date solution with 1 spare...