Re: NT4 To W2K3 server....is it *really* this easy?

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From: Jag (anonymous_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 05/17/04 

Date: Mon, 17 May 2004 15:11:05 -0700

Hi, Lee

I have migrated NT 4 to Windows 2003 server by keeping the same server name. I followed Bob's brilliant suggestions. I have also documented the steps I took to a successful migrations. In my opinion the migration took lot longer than I planned, however we were able finish by Monday morning.

The steps

1) Install NT 4 on the temporary PC and connect the NT4 boxes as BDC, synchronise domains
2) Promote it to PDC, the original PDC will automatically will be demoted to BDC
Use Robocopy to move the data files from the old to the temp server.
3) Upgrade the PDC box to Win2000 . Run /forestprep and /domainprep and DCPROMO
4) Install latest ADC connector
5) Install Exchange 2000, apply the latest service packs and post service fixes
6) Move mailboxes from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2003. using Exchange Migration Tool(Exchange 2000)
7) Demote the original PDC and offline remove the related records on DNS and WINS
8) Remove the Original Server name from the AD Computers and Domain Name from the Windows 2000 domain, Use ADEDIT tool and NTSutil. Otherwise one is not able to join the domain with the same computer name.
9) Install a fresh Windows 2003, join the Windows 2000 domain.use same computer name, Run /forestprep and /Domainprep
10)Transfer all the FSMO roles to the new DC, Windows 2003 server
11) Install Exchange 2003.
12) Move the mailboxes to the new box, use Exchange migration tool
At the end, run Robocopy again to move the data files from the temp server
to the new DC

Relevant Pages

  • Re: 5.5 to 2003 (5.5 is on an NT 4 PDC) Help!
    ... > sites and a bridgehead and they all aer on BDC. ... > servers manually in 3 locations would be a lot of work. ... > Alternately, as I show in this newsgroup, I can install another domain in ... >>> machine as an upgrade. ...
    (microsoft.public.exchange.setup)
  • Re: NT PDC can no longer administer users it its own domain but can in others.
    ... Yes WINS is installed on the BDC and has been running fine. ... >> The PDC also had the NT Gateway for Netware service installed, ... However I get the same error message every time I try to select ... >> install process, it gave me an error message.. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.general)
  • Re: Plan / Implement BDC for AD
    ... CAREFUL the additional DC is NOT to be disconnected more than your forest tombstone life time or it will be Dead for the forest. ... Thanks for clearing about BDC. ... I will install the first DC, but what if this DC by ... active and AD replication traffic will be reduced. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.active_directory)
  • Re: Windows 2000 in a Windows NT Domain
    ... Install a new BDC to the latest hardware platform available. ... Install Windows 2000 Server on the PDC. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.general)
  • Re: DHCP Works for NT 4 Server Install But Not NT 4 BDC
    ... > I need to install a temporary NT4 BDC controller in order to migrate some ... > of NT4 on new hardware, DHCP fails when I select BDC as the install type. ... What does DHCP had to do with the BDC for the purpose of upgrade? ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.active_directory)