2k SVR Upgrade with new server in hand. 2

[Guntha]

I kow this is prolly asked all the time but I want able to get to the search functiona nd I went back 14 pages so I thought I would start a new thread.

I have an NT Domain with 7 NT Servers (2 DC's both NT4.0 sp6) and one 2K member server.
I have a nice shiny new Compax ML350, 1GHZ, 1.5Gig RAM, to replace my REALLY worn out PDC. The PDC is a clone running on a 266 PII and 128 MB of RAM, 2 18 GIG SCSI drives using NT mirroring (software RAID!) This server handles DHCP, PDC functions , Backup Exec 8.6 and file sharing. As you can see I REALLY need to upgrade.
My question is; what would be the best method to upgrade? Do I try to upgrade the PII to win2k then install WIN2K on the Compaq and duplicate the drive partitions and move all the data? The Compaq is running Hardware RAID via a Smartarray 5300. any and all help is apprecitaed.

Alex

 

[bernies]

I have run into similar situations on several occasions. The way I find it best to do this is to promote the BDC to be the PDC. Upgrade the new PDC to Win2k, and run dcpromo. This will get all your users/groups/permissions into Active Directory, and your WinNT network is still intact. If something goes wrong at this point, you pull the W2K box offline, repromote the PDC and restore the old BDC from tape or ghost or whatever.

Next, install your new Compaq server and dcpromo it. Transfer the FSMO role from the upgraded PDC to the new Compaq. Now you have a new Compaq DC with FSMO, a second W2K DC and the NT4 BDC. You can then choose to migrate all your services and files to the Compaq, or upgrade the BDC to be a W2K DC. Once complete, you can choose to demote one or both of the old servers and remove them from the domain, or leave them up for redundancy. At any rate, you can now set the domain to run in Native mode, and enjoy.

 

[Guntha]

Thanks for the advice but I still have a question; Will I be able to put the original PC's Netbios name on the new Compaq? I have all my users "HOME" directories on it and all my clients are mapped to it via \\servername\users I'd hate to have to touch all the users PC to change the mappings.

Alex

 

[doomhamur]

hello, after you have installed you have upgraded you PDC to w2k, get a good backup of your file server, shut it down and restore to the new compaq runing win2k. after the restore change the name of the compaq to the correct name and then install AD.

Have a nice day Doomhamur
Network Engineer
"Certifications? we dont need no stinking certifiaction."
yahoo IM handle: greater_vortex

 

[GlenJohnson]

These gents are on the money. This is exactly what we did with the exception of the name change. Didn't have to do that. Here's a star for ya Bernies and Doomhamur.

Glen A. Johnson
Johnson Computer Consulting
MCP W2K
glen@johnsoncomputers.us

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[Guntha]

You guys are a huge help. Thanks you very much!

Alex