More About Exporting and Importing the DHCP Database

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

You can use this procedure to move a DHCP database from one server computer (the source server) to another server computer (the destination server).

Membership in the Administrators group or the DHCP Administrators group on the source and destination DHCP servers is the minimum required to complete this procedure.

To move a DHCP database and configuration from a server that is running Windows Server 2003 to another server that is running Windows Server 2008 R2

  1. Log on to the source DHCP server.

  2. Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then click OK.

  3. On the Action menu, click Backup.

  4. Type netsh dhcp server export C:\dhcp.txt all, and then press ENTER.

  5. Install the DHCP server service on the destination DHCP server. For more information about installing DHCP, see Installing the DHCP Server Role.

  6. Log on to the destination DHCP server.

  7. Copy the exported DHCP database file to the local hard disk of the destination DHCP server.

  8. Verify that the DHCP service is started on the destination DHCP server.

  9. Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then click OK.

  10. 10. Type netsh dhcp server import C:\dhcp.txt all, and then press ENTER

  11. Open DHCP.

  12. In the console tree, click DHCP.

  13. On the Action menu, click Authorize.

Additional Resources

For a list of Help topics providing related information, see Recommended tasks for the DHCP server role.

For updated detailed IT pro information about DHCP, see the Windows Server 2008 documentation on the Microsoft TechNet Web site.