I'm coming into a new client that is running a server 2008R2 box w/ Exchange 2010. All on the same box. Ideally, I'd like to break this up using a VM. My thoughts were something along the line of this.
Convert the physical machine to a VM on a new Server 2012 box. Once that's successful, join the 2012 box to the VM's domain. Then I can transfer the DC roles to it, dcpromo down the Windows 2008 R2 DC (VM). The question I have (as I haven't done this on a box with Exchange before) is will the last process of promoting the new server and demoting the old server (the one with exchange) break Exchange at any point? I feel like in theory it should keep chugging along as long as the AD roles are transferred properly?
Then once all is well, the 2008R2 box can hum along as a stand-a-lone Exchange box.
Thoughts? TIA