Active Directory migration from NT4

[jrwinterburn]

Hi all,

I wonder if anyone could point me in the right direction. I have, on several occassions, run DCPROMO on Windows Server 2003 and successfully set up and configured Active Directory. I have also upgraded from 2000 to 2003 using ADMT. However, what I have not done, and am nervous about doing is:

Upgrade current network and configuration from Windows NT4.0 domain controller to Windows Server 2003 Domain controller.

What I want to do is set up the new DC on a separate server, then import the users across from the NT4 DC using the ADMT tool. However, how do I go about setting this up correctly? I want to ensure that I set up this domain controller to be on the same domain as it currently is - however, I cannot join the domain because DCPROMO says my domain is not a valid Active Directory domain - can I not run both DC's alongside each other so that my users have streamless crossover?

Any help appreciated, thanks.

Jonathen

 

[Jpoandl]

I don't think you can in-place upgrade Windows NT 4.0 directly to Windows 2003. However, you can do this:

1) Add new Windows NT 4.0 BDC (running new hardware)
2) Promote this to PDC (demoting original PDC to BDC)
3) Take old PDC offline and protect for roll back
4) Inplace upgrade the new BDC to Windows 2000 (This will upgrade the domain to Windows 2000)
5) Upgrade the Windows 2000 domain controller to Windows 2003

The result of this will allow you to keep you domain and provide an easy domain upgrade process.

Otherwise, you can use ADMT to migrate to a new Windows 2003 domain (with a different domain name). After the migration is complete, rename the domain (allowed in Windows 2003) back to the original domain name. <-- this would be much harder and require much more work.

-later

Joseph L. Poandl
MCSE 2003

If your company is in need of experts to examine technical problems/solutions, please check out

http://www.NJCOMPUTERNETWORKS.com

(Sales@njcomputernetworks.com)

 

[jrwinterburn]

That makes perfect sense, thank you. I shall give it a go.

 

[Jpoandl]

Oh...you can upgrade NT 4.0 directly to Windows 2003. Here's how:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;325379

Joseph L. Poandl
MCSE 2003

If your company is in need of experts to examine technical problems/solutions, please check out

http://www.NJCOMPUTERNETWORKS.com

(Sales@njcomputernetworks.com)