RE: yet another NT4.0 to 2003 migration; which strategy to choose

From: Bob Qin [MSFT] (bobqin_at_online.microsoft.com)
Date: 03/01/04 

Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2004 10:06:11 GMT

Hi Martijn,

Thanks for your posting here. If you prefer to use Domain rename Tool,
there are three additional items I would like to suggest you to consider
before completing a domain rename operation.

- The forest will be out of service for a short period of time. Forest
service is interrupted during the time it takes for each domain controller
to perform the directory database updates necessary for the domain rename
and then reboot.
- All domain controllers must either successfully complete the rename
operation or be eliminated from the forest.
- Each member computer joined to a renamed domain must be rebooted twice
after all domain controllers have been updated.

In fact, ADMT tool is often recommended in this scenario. In general, we
first migrate users, groups, computer objects and security from Windows NT
4.0 into an Active Directory target domain. After the migration process is
complete, clients can log on to the original Windows NT 4.0 domain or the
new Active Directory domain for authentication. Clients can also access
resources in either the source or the target domain, until the source
domain is decommissioned.

After you migrate computer accounts, the clients have been added to the new
AD automatically.

Now you can migrate the WINS, DNS and DHCP services to Windows Server 2003
and migrate File and Print Servers to Windows Server 2003.

There are some good documents below.

Migrating from Windows NT Server 4.0 to Windows Server 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e92cf6a0-76f0-4e25-
8de0-19544062a6e6&DisplayLang=en#filelist
 
Windows NT Server 4.0 Upgrade Guide
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/partners/isvs/ntmigrate.mspx

Restructuring Windows NT 4.0 Domains to an Active Directory Forest
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/prodtechn
ol/windowsserver2003/proddocs/deployguide/DSSBG_RENT_OVERVIEW.asp

No matter which solution you choose, please do make a full backup for your
current domain for recovery purpose. Also, please perform throughout tests
in your lab environment beforehand.

I hope the information helps. Have a nice day!

Regards,
Bob Qin
Product Support Services
Microsoft Corporation

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

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