On occasion, it may become necessary to move active directory FSMO roles to different servers, such as when decommissioning an old domain controller or adding new DC’s to your forest.
Of all of the FSMO roles (RID, PDC Emulator, Infrastructure Master, Domain Naming Master, and Schema Master) the procedure for moving the schema master is the one I have the hardest time remembering.
Server Configuration
Open a command prompt on the target DC that you will be transferring the schema master role to.
Enter regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll. This registers the schema management dll so you can open it in MMC..
Next, open MMC, go to Add/Remove snap-in, click Add, select Active Directory Schema, click Add, then click Close and then Ok.
Verify the snap-in is pointed to the DC that you will be transferring the schema master role to.
Right-click on Active Directory Schema, select Change Domain Controller, select Specify Name and enter the name of the target DC in the dialog box. Click Ok.
Now, we’re ready to transfer the role. Right-click on Active Directory Schema, then select Operations Master.
In the Change Schema Master dialog box, verify the FQDN in the lower dialog box corresponds to the name of the target DC. Click Change, then click Ok to verify the change.
Check your Directory Service event log for event ID 1458 verifying the successful change.
