I currently have one NT4.0 (PDC) server which we want to
remove and replace with a W2K server. The current hardware
does not allow for an inplace upgrade so new hardware has
been purchased.
My question is .....What is the best way to perform an
upgrade that will enable us to transfer the accounts,
server name,ip address and data to the new server.
Effectivley we just want new haedware and new OS. The rest
remains the same.
Regards
Before you do any of this, plan and decide on your domain naming scheme. You
will have both your old DNS name available and a dns name to decide on. Use
something like "domain.local" for domain unless you have a reason to call
your domain something else.
Install NT4 server on new hardware, join to domain and dcpromo to a BDC.
Promote the BDC to PDC using server manager and verify that the old system
has indeed been demoted. Transfer the data to new PDC. This will NOT include
applications... those need to have setup run.
Shutdown the BDC (old system) and keep it around for up to a week while you
verify if the W2K upgrade worked as expected on new system. Its critical to
have a recovery contingency plan.
Upgrade the NT4 PDC to the root DC of a new W2K forest.
Take some time to properly configure your DNS server (its the most common
mistake in setting up a W2K domain). If this is a private domain where users
need to have external internet access, then delete the root zone and
configure forwarders on DNS server:
http://support.microsoft.com:80/support/kb/articles/q291/3/82.asp
Will the server's dns name be the same as the original: no. Then again nt
based operating systems don't use names to communicate, they use SIDs. Will
the ipaddress match the old system: no. But thats not an issue in a DNS
environment.
