RE: Changing from Windows NT4.0 pdc server to new windows 2003 server

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From: Rebecca Chen [MSFT] (v-rebc_at_online.microsoft.com)
Date: 10/08/04 

Date: Fri, 08 Oct 2004 08:07:04 GMT

Hi Stepen,

It is OK to upgrade NT PDC to win2k3 and keep other BDCs since win2k3 can
act as PDC emulator. The process goes like this:
- Promote a Windows NT 4.0 BDC to the PDC, which demotes the PDC to
a BDC.
- Do a full backup of the former PDC and remove it from the network.
- Upgrade the new PDC to Windows Server 2003.
- Use the Windows Server 2003 Active Directory wizard to turn on the
Active Directory service. The Active Directory service imports the existing
user accounts, groups, and other settings from the PDC.
- Run your new Windows Server 2003 domain controller with Active
Directory for a test period.
- If desired you can do a clean installation of Windows Server 2003
on the former PDC, and bring it online as an Active Directory domain
controller.
- Transfer all Flexible Single-Master Operation (FSMO) roles to the
new Windows Server 2003 domain controller.
- Verify all directory information has replicated.
- Demote the first domain

For more details, please refer to the following articles:
White Paper: Migrating Windows NT Server 4.0 Domains to Windows Server 2003
Active Directory
<http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;818623>

Migrating Windows NT Server 4.0 Domains to Windows Server 2003 Active
Directory
<http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/whyupgrade/nt4/nt4dom
toad.mspx>

Why Upgrade from Windows NT 4.0 to Windows Server 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/whyupgrade/nt4/nt4town
et.mspx

Fruther questions, let us get in touch!

Best regards,

Rebecca Chen

MCSE2000 MCDBA CCNA

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

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