upgrade from SBS4.5

[gurner]

I have been asked to upgrade a SBS4.5, Exchange 5.5, SQL7 based domain to a full AD Win2ksvr, Exch2000, SQL2000 base.

Now this in itself wouldn't pose me many problems (IF it were NT4) but i believe that SBS is going to give me problems. (and the requested upgrade route is unusual in my book)

In initial trials the upgrade has gone ok, but this is where the SBS hassle comes in.

SBS has to be a PDC (Right?) the upgrade goes fine (to SBS2000) after minor re-configurations to LDAP ports and the such, but after the upgrade no User accounts are available, so i promote the server (fine!)

What i have to do next is get to new Win2ksvrs up (no problem) BUT one of them is to eventually be the User/File/Exchange2000 box and the other is to be the SQL/IIS/RRAS server.

The problem is the first machine (SBS2k upgrade) is to eventually be taken off line.

I can get 2 Domain controllers synchronising AD (SBS to Win2k), but once this is running what is the best way of demoting the SBS machine (then turning off) and promoting the clean Win2k box so that the User/File/Exchange2000 box is parent?

Bearing in mind that the Exchange accounts have to move one to the other first (what is the best way of this as well?)

I have wondered wether the AD Migration tool would migrate from SBS4.5 across to a clean Win2k (but i have been told that it isn't a viable option)

The PDC has to be upgraded then migrated between 2 machines

I have tried AD Connectors between SBS2000 (with Exch5.5) and Win2k (with Exch2000) and the Exchange 5.5 Directory service seems to die with an unspecified error (looks a bit like an OLE automation error, strange)

I have tried Exch2000 over the top of Exch5.5 on an upgraded SBS4.5 to 2000 box and again the Directory service dies.

One thing i am reluctant to try is remove AD from the SBS machine (this appears to be the only option i can find)

1, because i have a Win2ksvr box dependant on it (until i can promote it)
2, i can't seem to get the Exch accounts 'Moved' from SBS to Win2k without killing Exch directory services in the process.

Help

Much appreicated, cheers (fortunatly i do have access to a large bank of test machines, so any suggestion are welcome)

"The SQL, IIS Web Portals, RRAS, e.t.c. is easy in comparison to this"

 

[gurner]

Ok, so can get the user accounts from the upgraded SBS to 2K box over to a clean 2K.

But Exchange 2000 doesn't have directory services of its own so i figured the Actice Directory connector would 'latch' on to the Exch5.5 still on the upgraded SBS machine.

But it won't finish the task because the Directory services on the SBS machine are dead.

Am i going to need to 'can' the upgrade of the SBS machine and get an SBS4.5 and a clean Win2ksvr box to migrate information? Bearing in mind i want to bring Exch accounts across from 5.5 onto the new machine with Exch2000

I guess i can but try, reassurance would be appreciated if this is the right/wrong route.