Upgrade From NT4 w/Exchange 5.5 To Win2000, What To Expect..

[CaffieneNnicotine]

Hello all, I have a nt4 domain controller running exchange 5.5 sp3. I am needing to upgrade it to windows 2000. I already have 2 other clients that run exchange 5.5 on win 2000 and it works very well. But these were fresh installs, what should I be aware of when upgrading this way? Thanks alot. All Complaints Will Be Routed To /dev/null

 

[yizhar]

HI.

Here are some tips:

* You must have a good full backup of the system before the upgrade. Using GHOST or similar method is recommended in addition to normal tape backups. You must always be able to go back if things go wrong.

* If you are going to keep using Exchange 5.5, you will need to use the ADC Active Directory Connector. Read about it if you haven't done already.

* This is a catchy one: you should remove all DNS suffix entries in the TCP/IP settings before the upgrade, and when you do the upgrade, you should verify that after the W2K initial setup but BEFORE the DCPROMO proccess starts (The active directory setup), you should check the TCP/IP settings and verify that the "change DNS suffix when domain membership changes" is selected. Failing to do so might end up with a server that it's name isn't as it should be and will give you trouble with DNS and therefor with Active Directory.

* You should plan for the upgrade , one thing for example is to decide what will be the new W2K domain name - I suggest something like company.local and not the domain name registered on the Internet, to avoid conflicts between internal and external DNS.

* Check the current server to see if it is ready for the upgrade.
Do you have enough disk space?
Do you need more RAM?
Do you have all needed drivers?
Do you have W2K compatible software (check your anti virus and backup software if they are current and compatible).

These are only several tips. You can find instructions for step by step in MS web site if you need.

Bye
Yizhar Hurwitz

http://come.to/yizhar

http://teachers.sivan.co.il/yizhar