Adding a 2003 domain controller to a 2000 domain 1

[jjeffords]

Hey guys just about to upgrade the companies DC from a Windows 2000 server to a Windows 2003 Server. Just curious of any input from anyone that has run into any trouble.
Basically the direction i am following is similar to what is on this link

http://computing.fusion13.com/ActiveDirectory/Add-Windows-2003-DC-to-a-Windows-2000-Domain.shtml

Just curious if anyone that is here has performed this type of upgrade and what strange problems they may have run into. I also have exchange 2000 running but i am going to upgrade it to 2003 before i upgrade the DC. Just curious if this is a better way. Basically i know 2000 exchange isnt supposed to run on 2003 but that exhange 2003 can run on 2000 Server. Anyway i am pretty confident on this project and all but as always i would rather be safe then sorry and take every precaution and hear some stories from others who may have had some weird errors occur.
Thanks in Advance.

 

[markdmac]

You will definately need to upgrade your Exchange to 2003 first. Run the Exchange Setup with the /ForestPrep and then with /DomainPrep.
When you have Exchange upgraded, run ADPREP/FORESTPREP and ADPREP /DOMAINPREP fromt he Windows 2003 CD. Then the upgrade should go smooth as silk.

I've done a few of these already and not had any troubles with them.

I hope you find this post helpful. Please let me know if it was.

Regards,

Mark

 

[jjeffords]

Actually the 2000 server that is currently the domain controller is also running exchange 2000. The server that is going to be the new domain controller is a whole new rack mount server. It already has 2003 loaded and it is on the network. However i have not installed AD nor have i installed exchange 2003. I was wondering would it be easier to just update the current server to 2003 of exchange and also server because i will be using it for an AD Backup Machine and then adding the new one in OR should i just load AD on the new machine and go from there.
Thanks again

 

[markdmac]

Just want to clarify one thing, your current Exchange is on a DC? once Exchange 2003 is installed you will not be able to run DCPROMO on that server.

As for upgrading the new server to a DC before or after doing the Exchange server, I think that is 6 of one and a 1/2 dozen of the other. Does not matter.

I hope you find this post helpful. Please let me know if it was.

Regards,

Mark

 

[jjeffords]

The way our set up is now is this:
2000 server named DC1 for example sake.
Runs AD and is the DC and runs 2000 exchange
Located at the business office server room

We also have a second server called adbackup
It is in our server room here at the hospital.
It doesnt run exchange though.

What i was to do is this.
The brand new server i just bought i wanna make our DC and keep it here at the hospital.I also want it to run exchange but 2003 version.

What i am going to do is get rid of adbackup. Deploy the new server as the DC here at the hospital server room. Also i want to use DC1 at the business office as an adbackup.

So the new server(2003 server and 2003 exchange) replaces the current DC(2000 server and 2000 exchange). Current DC(2000 server and 2000 exchange) becomes an adbackup and also runs exchange. Old adbackup is put in the closet to be put to rest lol

I also want to upgrade the old DC from 2000 to 2003 as well as the exchange version on it from 2000 to 2003. This way the new DC and the adbackup(former dc1) are both running 2003 server and 2003 exchange. Just one will be here at the hospital and one will be at the business office.

The main reasoning for all this is the fact that the old adbackup machine is a dual 400 which needs to go..
The current dc1 is a dual 900.
The new server is a dual 2.8 Xeon

Thanks once again...