confirmation required

[terry712]

current: - nt domain consisting of 1 * PDC , 3 BDC's (each running exchange 5.5 - one organisation) and 1 * 2000 member server (sms 2). - the domain has no users that login to it for anything except exchange -

so here's what i want to do
1. install new server with 2003
2. install additional nt4 BDC and then take offline after replication
3. upgrade existing pdc to 2003 - installing the dns as part of install

question - at this point can administration of the exchange etc still be carried out from the admin utils on any of the bdc's

4. move all the roles to the new 2003 server , install the dns etc and then when replicated and ok - remove the former pdc

question - can i move the users around to different ou's now - i assume that AD will not see the attributes for 5.5 and not interfere

5. install a 2 new 2003 servers - as a member servers and run the exchange setup to include it into the existing setup

6. setup the ad connection and move the mailboxes from the original 3 servers to the 2 servers

7 remove all the stuff to be left with 4 servers - 1 dc and 3 members -

 

[martyh]

Hi Terry,

Haven't researched it in a while but I am pretty sure you are going to have issues with a 2003 DC and Exchange 5.5 in a mixed domain.

I think you can have 2003 member servers but if I remember correctly a 2003 DC will require all sorts of forest prep (because of the non W2K3 DCs) and I think it will not play nice (if at all) with Exchange 5.5.

Hope I'm wrong but I don't think so.

Marty
Network Admin
Hilliard Schools

 

[NortonES2]

Also don't believe that you can run Exchange5.5 in a Windows2003 AD.

-------------------------------

If it doesn't leak oil it must be empty!!

 

[pherr]

I don't know if this is what you are asking or if it will help but here goes

1. Upgrade the pdc to windows 2003(as long as your exchange5.5 is not on that box. If it is move it to the win 2000 box.) This will preserve all your users and set the forest and domain.

2. You can not run exchange 5.5 on win 2003. You can on win2000 and win2000 and be a member server or DC.

3. Upgrade or better yet do a fresh install of the bdc's to windows 2003.

4. Now if you want to reload the original pdc to a fresh install you can transfer its roles, demote it and reload. After that is complete just dcpromo it and if you want take back the fsmo roles.

Most of this can be done without disrubting you network. You should plan carefully though.

 

[terry712]

ok i'm not being very clear - i will modify steps

current: - nt domain consisting of 1 * PDC , 3 BDC's (each running exchange 5.5 - one organisation) and 1 * 2000 member server (sms 2). - the domain has no users that login to it for anything except exchange -

so here's what i want to do
1. install new server with 2003
2. install additional nt4 BDC and then take offline after replication
3. upgrade existing pdc to 2003 - installing the dns as part of install

so now i have a 2003 AD system - obviously not native yet

question - at this point can administration of the exchange etc still be carried out from the admin utils on any of the bdc's

4. move all the roles to the new 2003 server , install the dns etc and then when replicated and ok - remove the former pdc

so now i have 1 * 2003 AD DC , 2 * bdc's with 5.5 and my 2000 member

question - can i move the users around to different ou's now - i assume that AD will not see the attributes for 5.5 and not interfere

5. install a 2 new 2003 servers - as a member servers and run the 2003 exchange setup to include it into the existing setup

6. setup the ad connection and move the mailboxes from the original 3 servers to the 2 servers

7 remove all the stuff to be left with 4 servers - 1 dc and 3 members - and no exchange 5.5 only 2003 exchange on the 2 servers

 

[pherr]

If you install a new 2003 server you will have to

1. Create a new domain (2003 cannot join 4.0 domain.)
2. Leave the new server as a member server.

If you upgrade you PDC to 2003 first you will avoid a lot of headache. You can not however have exchange 5.5 on it. You will be able to use 5.5 the way you are now even if you have AD. If you are going to create a new domain you will have to recreate accounts or trust the old domain. If you just create trust and migrate users to the new domain. I think it would be much easier to start with the pdc, if your exchange servers are all in the same site you can move PF and MB to another server.

Your plan after the upgrade should work fine, i.e. exchange 2003 and migrate user to it.

The only part that I am not clear on is step 2. Do you mean to join them to the box in step 1? If so see above.

 

[terry712]

sorry i'm crap at explaining
basically i want it nice and clean - i dont like upgrades - i prefer fresh installs - so the server in step 1 will be the server that i want to be left with as the DC. step 2 is purely for a disaster copy of the domain. step 3 - using the nt4 domain i will upgrade the pdc to win 2003 - and then when i'm happy that the domain is ok - i will then add my new 2003 server to this domain and move the fsmo's from the upgraded pdc to it - i will then remove the former pdc as i dont want an old server that has been upgraded

the exchange 5.5 is still at this stage on the 2 former bdc's - not really sure what they are at this stage - just kid on bdc's

i will then install new 2003 servers for the exchange 2003


1. install new server with 2003
2. install additional nt4 BDC and then take offline after replication
3. upgrade existing pdc to 2003 - installing the dns as part of install

question - at this point can administration of the exchange etc still be carried out from the admin utils on any of the bdc's

4. move all the roles to the new 2003 server , install the dns etc and then when replicated and ok - remove the former pdc

question - can i move the users around to different ou's now - i assume that AD will not see the attributes for 5.5 and not interfere

5. install a 2 new 2003 servers - as a member servers and run the exchange setup to include it into the existing setup

6. setup the ad connection and move the mailboxes from the original 3 servers to the 2 servers

7 remove all the stuff to be left with 4 servers - 1 dc and 3 members -

 

[pherr]

I do understand what you want to do but you must understand that unless you want to create a new domain, you must upgrade the pdc first. After that you can do the rest of what you want to, after you have at least 1 other DC running AD you can demote the upgraded PDC and reload with a fresh install, than promote it a DC. If you do it without the pdc you will have to recreate user accounts. This is the proper way to maintain your domain and it still results in the same out come that you are looking for.

This is also the same method that had to be used to go from 4.0 to 2000. I boxes set up like yours and I did the following

1. Upgrade PDC
2. Move mailboxes on an exchange 5.5. Reload with fresh 2000, made this a DC.
3. Repeated step 2 on other exchanges.
4. Once I had my exchange boxes all 2000 I than rebuilt the origanal PDC.
5. Finished with file servers, print servers, dB servers, ECT.


It is the best way to accomplish what you want. Remember that AD is not the same a the PDC - BDC relationship. Except for the fsmo roles they are all Domain Controlers.(the boxes promoted of course, other will be member servers or stand alone.)

The move from 2000 to 2003 was less of a hassle.
I hope this will help.

ph