Moving NT4 based PDC and BDC to Win2k

[Dale]

We are totally Win2k with the exception of our PDC and BDC
servers which are NT4 and have remained in place only for
this function. We are planning on retiring these servers
(2) and not upgrading the hardware, but instead move the
functions either to a new dedicated AD box or to another
existing Win2k server. Not sure if a dedicated AD box is
needed or recommended.

What is the easiest way to move to AD with a Win2k server
handing the DC functions, and retire these old NT4 servers?

In our environment users do not log directly into Win2k
servers but rather authenticate to eDirectory. Win2k
servers are used for applications rather than
file/print/authentication which is handled by NetWare.

Thx
Dale

 

[David Brandt [MSFT]]

The "easiest" way to move to AD is to just upgrade your pdc. In your case
with the new hw, you'd install one of those boxes as an nt4 bdc, promote it
to pdc, and then upgrade to 2k. You can also create a "new" win2k domain,
set up trust/s between that 2k domain and your nt domain, and then use
ADMTv2 to migrate to the 2k domain. The upgrade route is the
quickest/easiest though I believe. However I'd encourage you to read up on
the info from the following links if you haven't already, as 2k is a bit
different from nt.

http://search.microsoft.com/search/results.aspx?st=b&View=en-us&na=82&qu=admt

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr.../prodtechnol/ad/windows2000/plan/migntw2k.asp

note; there is a ton of info on the web site that covers just about anything
you'd need.

--
David Brandt
Microsoft Corporation

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Please do not send e-mail directly to this alias. This alias is for
newsgroup purposes only.

 

[Dale]

Thx for quick response David. I agree with your upgrade
suggestion. So that said, my plan is to:
- introduce a newer hardware NT4 machine, make it a BDC
- remove the existing BDC I have which is on very shaking
ground hardware wise and OS wise. Its hanging by a thread.
- promote the new hardware BDC to the PDC (via dcpromo I
believe - the existing PDC gets demoted to BDC?) , upgrade
it to Win2k, it would now be a DC for the domain
functioning as a PDC to the remaining NT4 BDC server
- create several DC's on other existing Win2k servers so
that there is more than one copy
- remove the last existing NT4 BDC, now with DC's in the
Win2k environment its services would no longer be
necessary (nothing runs on the existing NT4 servers except
the PDC and BDC service)
- I now am NT4 free and the domain structure has been
migrated to Win2k

Do you concur?

 

[Chriss3]

You can also migrate over existing Domain to a new fresh domain.

How to Migrate Your Windows NT 4.0 Directory Services to Windows 2000 Active
Directory:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/TechNet/tcevents/itevents/tnq20003.asp

Domain Migration Strategies and Windows 2000:
http://www.microsoft.com/Seminar/Includes/Seminar.asp?Url=/Seminar/1033/19990923TEDMS/Portal.xml

Domain Migration Cookbook:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/planning/activedirectory/cookbook.asp

Planning Domain Migration Strategies:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/dpg/default.asp

Planning Migration from Windows NT to Windows 2000:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/planning/activedirectory/plandommig.asp

Download ADMT:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/tools/admt/default.asp

Active Directory Migration Tool Overview:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/howitworks/activedirectory/admt.asp

Migrating from Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 to Windows 2000 Server:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/archive/default.asp?url=/archive/en-us/dnarntserv/html/msdn_nt4to5.asp

--
Regards,

Christoffer Andersson
No email replies please - reply in the newsgroup
If the information was help full, you can let me know at:
http://www.itsystem.se/employers.asp?ID=1

 

[Enkidu]

Thx for quick response David. I agree with your upgrade
suggestion. So that said, my plan is to:
- introduce a newer hardware NT4 machine, make it a BDC
- remove the existing BDC I have which is on very shaking

You could do this, or retain it during the upgrade just in case. You
do have the other existing machine (the existing PDC) which will
function as a BDC during the upgrade.

ground hardware wise and OS wise. Its hanging by a thread.
- promote the new hardware BDC to the PDC (via dcpromo I
believe - the existing PDC gets demoted to BDC?) ,

No, since this is still an NT Domain, you would use the NT4 tool to do
the job. It's called "Server Manager" from memory, isn't it?

upgrade it to Win2k, it would now be a DC for the domain
functioning as a PDC to the remaining NT4 BDC server

Yes, the role is called "PDC Emulator".

- create several DC's on other existing Win2k servers so
that there is more than one copy

Well, if you currently only have two (PDC and BDC) it's probably only
necessary to have two DCs.

- remove the last existing NT4 BDC, now with DC's in the
Win2k environment its services would no longer be
necessary (nothing runs on the existing NT4 servers except
the PDC and BDC service)

Yes, there's a certain amount of AD cleanup to remove the last traces
of the old NT Domain Controllers.

- I now am NT4 free and the domain structure has been
migrated to Win2k

..... with lots and lots of temproary backups that you can now recycle,
I'd hope! <grin>

One aspect that worries me somewhat is the Netware factor. You may do
well to investigate this area in some detail. Active Directory really
likes to be the *only* kid on the block. But I'm sure that the Netware
heads out there have done this sort of migration before and could help
you out. Another posting (in the appropriate forums) with the Netware
side emphasised might be advisable.

Cheers,

Cliff