Re: Migration from SBS 4.5 to Windows 2003 Server

OK based on what I have gathered then my strategy may change to one of two
methods:

What if i take one of my BDC (full Sychronized) and remove from network
Promote it to PDC
Upgrade it to Windows 2000 Server PDC
Turn off my SBS (only used as a DC now... no other applications in use on
it)
Turn on my new Windows 2000 PDC

Downside of this is that I'm not happy with what my initial root domain name
will be - NTDOMAIN.????

Question: will my workstations (all XP) and member servers(windows 2000 and
windows 2003) be recognized on the new DC?

OR... in order to clean up the initial root domain name I could do the
following:

Remove SBS from network and promote BDC to PDC (assuming this will now be
able to allow trusts with other domains)
Do a clean install of Windows 2000 Server with a new my own custom initial
root domain name
Create a trust between the old domain and new domain
Somehow (haven't done much reading on this part yet) move users,
workstations, member servers into new domain (hopefully retaining
credentials to files and resources (printers etc.)

What are your thoughts? Is option #2 possible?

Diane




"Cris Hanna [SBS-MVP]" <crisnospamhanna@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote in message news:%23onfdzSqHHA.4536@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Once its a BDC and DNS etc and synch is all done...
Yes...take it off the network
You can't promote it to a PDC while connected to the SBS network

And once you are migrated...no restrictions.

--
Cris Hanna [SBS-MVP]
-------------------------------------------------
Microsoft MVPs
Independent Experts (MVPs do not work for MS)
Real World Answers
---------------------------------------------------------
Please do not contact me directly regarding issues

"diane" <diane.armstrong@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:Ot0biDQqHHA.4420@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I haven't looked at sbsmigration.com but will.

I wasn't sure whether I could simply turn on the SBS4.5 after I had
already promoted a BDC to PDC. So I created the second BDC to be able to
promote in the event the 1st one failed. Maybe being over cautious but I
had the extra box sitting around.

Do you know the number of days a BDC can be disconnected? Are you saying
if I exceed this I would need to reinstall the box?

as for my original questions:
1. Do I do this upgrade with the box disconnected from the rest of the
network or while on the network "LIVE"

2. Since I have DNS already installed on another Windows 2000 member
server, do I need to disable it prior to installing the new DNS server on
the DC?

3. Can the SBS box be used as a DC again if the upgrade fails on the new
promoted DC?

Thanks
Diane

"Cris Hanna [SBS-MVP]" <crisnospamhanna@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote in message news:OkqtFVHqHHA.3368@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Have you looked at sbsmigration.com ?
Not sure why you have two BDCs and the one you have off line...there
is hard #of days you have have a DC "disconnected" from the PDC.

But your other steps are correct. You'll have some Active Directory
stuff to clean up because of SBS
I would have them Disconnected
And you'll need the windows 2000 box to be DNS, WINS, DHCP, Global
Catalog.

--
Cris Hanna [SBS-MVP]
-------------------------------------------------
Microsoft MVPs
Independent Experts (MVPs do not work for MS)
Real World Answers
---------------------------------------------------------
Please do not contact me directly regarding issues

"DianeA" <DianeA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:AB17B5BF-6CB3-4F03-A16C-A85F3F219DE3@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Not sure if this is the correct group but hopefully someone can answer
a
couple of questions or give comments on my method.

I have SBS4.5 running on a very old server. But i want to move to
Windows
2000 full version and then 2003 in the future (Just due to some legacy
applications we need to get rid of before we go to 2003)

So my plan is:
Install NT4.0 as BDC on new box (this step is done) (sychronize before
upgrade)
Have another BDC offline (this is done - will do final sychronization
before
upgrade)
Take SBS4.5 offline
Make new BDC the PDC
Upgrade to Windows 2000 Server

A couple of questions:
1. should I upgrade the server while on network or should I take it
off the
network
2. If upgrade fails, can the SBS4.5 be brought back online (or are the
desktops have some sort of connection to what is knows as the new
Domain
Controller?)
3. DNS is currently running on a member server running Windows 2000...
do I
need to disable this and install on new Windows 2000 server or can I
leave it
running on the other server?

any assistance is appreciated.
Diane








.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: NT to W2K3 Migration
    ... You cannot just promote a member server to AD. ... upgrade your PDC to windows 2000 or 2003, whichever flavor of AD you want to ... Upgrading from Windows NT Server 4.0 ... ensure that you have designed a DNS ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.active_directory)
  • Re: NT to W2K3 Migration
    ... How to Upgrade from Windows NT Server 4.0 ... Best Practice Active Directory Design for Managing Windows Networks ...
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  • Re: Native 2003 mode and NT4 workstations?
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