Can NT PDC co-exist with Win2K server with Exchange2000?

[ash2000in]

Hi All,

I have a WindowsNT4.0 PDC in place with clients like Win98/XP running smoothly. I do not have any Exchange server installed so far.
I am planning to upgrade to Windows2000 network with Exchange2000 Server. Heres' my problem.
I have a 3rd party package running on my existing NT-PDC, which I cannot move it on any other machine. I want to implement Windows2000 with Exchange2000 for my network.
Is there in any ways that I can have my NT PDC remain in the network and also have Win2K & Exchange2K running smoothly??
Any help would be great!
Thanks,
Ash

 

[tom11011]

Exchange 2000 will require Active Directory on Windows 2000. Therefore, to have this NT machine remain in the domain, you will have to upgrade it to win2k. Since it is your current PDC, it will become the win2k Global Catalog, etc..

This is going to require a bit of planning, how many BDC's do you currently have?

If you have other BDC's, you could remove the PDC from the network, upgrade one of the BDC's to the PDC.

Just some random thoughts at 8am.

 

[ash2000in]

Hi Tom,
Thanks for a quick reply.
My problem is that I want this NT PDC to remain as it is, and still have Win2K & Exch2K on another machine. I am planning to upgrade one of my BDCs' to PDC offline, upgrade it to Win2K server, install Exch2K and then bring it back onto the network. What will happen then? Will the NT PDC and this Win2K server create problems?
Thanks. Ash

 

[tom11011]

In that case you might want to explore having to different domains in the forest than.

The only issue I see is the possible loss of your user and group account data. You bring up a new 2000 server, it becomes the Global Catalog. Since it's not being upgraded, it will start fresh. Now, you upgrade a BDC to a PDC and further upgrade it to windows 2000, I'm not sure what will happen. You may wish to test this scenario with a couple of PC's first. My upgrade wasn't that complex so I'm at a loss to say what for sure will happen.