Transferring FSMO roles

Transferring an FSMO role is a planned action, in most cases, because we are demoting old domain controllers. When you transfer a role, the latest data will replicate to the target server. To transfer an FSMO role using the GUI, you need to use the following AD MMC Snap-ins:

To transfer the PDC Emulator, Infrastructure master, and RID master FSMO roles, you need to use the Active Directory Users and Computers MMC Snap-in:

1. Open MMC Snap-in.
2. Select the domain and right-click on it.
3. Select Operation Masters.

You will see three different tabs, one for each of these FSMO roles, and you can then perform a transfer.

To transfer the Domain-naming master FSMO role, you need to use the Active Directory Domain and Trust MMC Snap-in:

1. Open MMC Snap-in.
2. Select Active Directory Domains and Trusts and right-click on it.
3. Select Operation Masters.

Then you will be able to perform the FSMO role transfer.

To transfer the Schema master FSMO role, you need to use a customized MMC Snap-in:

1. If you haven't done so already, register the schema by running the regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll command.
2. Open MMC Snap-in and open Active Directory Schema.
3. Select the Active Directory Schema and right-click on it.
4. Select Operation Masters.

Then you will be able to perform the FSMO role transfer.

Of course, the FSMO role transfer can also be done using PowerShell commands:

Move-ADDirectoryServerOperationMasterRole -Identity TargetDCName -OperationMasterRole FSMORoleName