upgrade from NT to 2000

[JayIT]

got a single NT domain migrating to 2000
we have
1 PDC
1 BDC
1 Exchange 5.5 (that will be upgraded to 2000)
1 File server
1 Ras
250 users on 95/98 (those will not be upgrade)

We whant to upgrade to 2000 and become part of a forest that has one domain. we will be a new tree in that forest.

Now here is the question......
wich path do I have to take to have it done?

PDC to DC
EXch 5.5 to 2000
File server
Ras
BDC to DC
Is that right?

thanks

 

[donnie4564]

Here is a very good link:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/itsolutions/guide/deployhl.asp

If you follow these guides you will have a smooth upgrade. Remember W2K and EX2K was designed to upgrade from NT4. If you follow the Microsoft way you will have little trouble.

First create yourself a way back in case of disaster, get a very good backup.

Take your BDC offline which can be used to restore back to NT4.

Upgrade the PDC

Use the forestprep and domainprep utilities on that DC. Some documentation says you only need the forest prep if you have multiple domains and some documentation says if you don't run domainprep the Exchange setup will run it for you. But, Exchange setup goes smoother and more stable if you use both of these utilities.
Setup a W2K member server, install EX2K on that server.

Build a connector between the 5.5 and EX2K, Don't use the ADC that comes with W2K use the ADC that comes on the EX2K CD. then move the mailboxes to EX2K, take 5.5 offline.

Once you deploy the EX2K on your network you will want to get the 5.5 offline ASAP. Microsoft has tried to make 5.5 and EX2K work together but the two were not really designed to coexist on the same network.

You should get two DC's and EX2K up to speed and the 5.5 offline before starting the other server upgrades.

Exchange 2000 is a complete makeover of Active Dir.

Exchange 2000 CANNOT be uninstalled I know it thinks it can be uninstalled but it cannot. If your exchange install crashes you will have to remove active dir. You could try a repair but most likely it will be a waste of time. I think it is a good idea to have a good backup of Active Dir before installing EX2K.

 

[JayIT]

Thanks alot for that info