How to migrate DHCP from Windows Server 2008 to 2012/2016: Log on to the old/existing DHCP server. Open the Command Prompt and run as Administrator. On the Action menu (from within the DHCP management console), click Backup. In CMD, type netsh dhcp server export C:Users Desktop dhcp.txt all, and then press ENTER. Install the DHCP role on the new (2012/2016) DHCP server using the Server Manager. Copy the exported DHCP text file to the desktop of the new DHCP server. Make sure that the DHCP service is installed and started on the new DHCP server. Open the command prompt as Administrator (on the new server) Type netsh dhcp server import C: Users Desktop dhcp.txt all, and then press ENTER Open DHCP management console on the new server. In the console tree, right-click DHCP and select Authorize.