Re: Install of a win2003 in a NT4 domain

From: Laura E. Hunter \(MVP\) (hunter(nospamplease)_at_sfs.upenn.edu)
Date: 06/22/04 

Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 12:26:56 -0400

When you are upgrading an NT4 domain to Windows Server 2003 Active
Firectory, the first machine to be upgraded must be the PDC on the domain.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/upgrading/nt4/default.mspx

This doesn't mean that your production PDC needs to be the first machine
upgraded if the existing hardware won't support the upgrade. Here's how I
did it:

You can do a clean NT4 install of a "swing" machine as an additional BDC on
your NT4 domain, promote that machine to be the PDC, then upgrade the clean
machine without affecting any apps running on your NT4 PDC.

You should also install a second "swing" BDC and take it offline completely
as a roll-back option in case you are dissatisfied with the 2003 upgrade for
any reason. 

-- 
******************************
Laura E. Hunter - MCSE, MCT, MVP
Replies to newsgroup only
"julien" <j.silverston@samusocial-75.fr> wrote in message 
news:1fb3e01c4584e$6e7548d0$a501280a@phx.gbl...
> Hello,
>
> I've buy a new server wich comes with win2003. I've an
> existing NT4 domain with a single PDC. I want to install
> the win2003 in this domain and after migrate my pdc to the
> win2003 and active AD.
> I've read everywhere the case of an upgrade of the NT4 pdc
> but it's not my case. I don't want to upgrade the NT4 it
> doesn't have the ressource to do it.
> I want to join the domain and switch the domain controler.
>
> Should I only install the win2003 and joining the domain or
> very actions to take before ?
>
> thank you for your help,
>
> julien
>
>

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