Upgrade gone wrong? 2

[RockChalk]

We tried to upgrade NT 4 PDC this weekend.
It is asking us if we want to create a new domain tree or a new child domain?
Looking at the documentation we tried to create a new domain tree and then a new forest. We are then asked to enter our domain name for DNS. We get a message stating that name is already in use.
Are we in trouble?

RC

 

[markdmac]

If you are upgrading then you should be choosing a New Domain In a New Forest.

Depending on where you have left this, will determine how bad or well off you are. Can you use the back button?



I hope you find this post helpful. Please let me know if it was.

Regards,

Mark

 

[RockChalk]

damc,
Thanks for response. We tried to enter "create a new domain tree and then new forest. It then ask what our domain DNS name is I type in our domain and it states that "this domain is already in use"

Any idea?

RC

 

[markdmac]

Use companyname.local instead of companyname.com[/i] when giving it the DNS name.

I hope you find this post helpful. Please let me know if it was.

Regards,

Mark

 

[RockChalk]

Thanks
Before I pull the trigger on this one.
Sorry to ask you but why companyname.local
Will we still have our domain "companyname.org"?

RC

 

[markdmac]

Yes, this is just used internally.

I hope you find this post helpful. Please let me know if it was.

Regards,

Mark

 

[RockChalk]

markdmac,
You have very helpful thanks. You da man!
I have one more question.
I forgot to remove our PDC from the network before we ran the upgrade on the PDC. (The worst feeling I have ever exprienced)
What effects have taken place on the NT BDC since the PDC was online at the time of the upgrade and is it to late to remove the DBC for Backup purposes?

I do have a backup of the BDC. Thank God.


RC

 

[RockChalk]

We entered in companyname.local lastnight and finished the upgrade. Everything seems to be working. So our current DC "Speedy"'s network Id is speedy.companyname.local and Domain is companyname.local
Is there a way to get the companyname.org back or should I worry about it?

We have another 2k server that is part of the companyname.org should we run dcpromo on it and then clean install speedy?

Thanks
RC

 

[dkediger]

If companyname.org is a registered Internet domain and you are not hosting that domain internally, there is little reason to change it from .local.

Microsoft has some KBs on this, I'll have to search and get you some links.

 

[dkediger]

Here you go:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;296250

The KB references SBS server, but the info is still valid for any smaller sized Windows AD network. The article succintly summarizes the pros/cons of different domain naming schemes.

 

[RockChalk]

Thanks again. A few more questions and I'll get over this.

What about my 2 other 2k servers and all my worstations that have the domain of companyname.org.

What about joining new workstations to the domain will it still be companyname.org or companyname.local

Our domain has been the same for so long that I just want to understand the effects. Sorry for being a pest.

Thanks
RC

 

[dkediger]

Joining new workstations will be .local. If you join them to the new domain using the Network Identity app, it will create new profiles for them - so user settings on the workstations will be "lost." There is info on Microsoft's site about moving identities between domains. If you have any 3rd party security certs stored on the workstations, be especially sure to create backups of them so they can be easily reinstalled if needed.

For the servers, if they were AD member servers in the old domain, they will need to be DCPROMOd back to workgroup servers and then DCPROMOd again to join the new domain.