Upgrading NT4 to Win2K

[SGTRawlins]

Hi Ladies and Gents,

Think i may need some major advice on this one, i am about to upgrade a companies network, we are currently running a standard workgroup setup with about 10 clients.

We have a server box that is currently operating on NT4, this is not currently part of the network but i wish to implement it as a DC.

Before doing so i will naturally upgrade the server OS to Win2K or 2K3, there is no valuable data stored on this server box as current so it will be a clean install.

Have you got any advice on what to expect when upgrading, I have been administering 2K systems for ages but have never dealt with NT.

I have also never built a domain from scratch, is this a reasonably easy procedure? Can anyone offer advice or derails of a good resource that i can look through.

All advice appreciated.

Cheers.

 

[ntinlin]

Never found any real issues going from NT to W2K. It's the DC part that is hard because you then have to get your head around DNS, AD, Sites, OU's etc.
W2003 DCPROMO wizard makes stuff pretty easy though.

Microsoft's docs on website aren't too bad. Anything by Mark Minasi is always well written and helpful.

W2K will usually tell you when it is upgrading if it finds any drivers or services that aren't W2K compatible and disable them while upgrading.
I tend to remove anything that I think might be a problem beforehand though. i.e. Some Compaq drivers and agents, early versions of diskeeper etc.

Just re-read your comment about clean install. Let W2K blow away NT4 if you can by formatting the partitions. Have any specific drivers for your system that W2K may not have to hand, e.g. RAID controllers, NIC's.
Also make sure to upgrade all firmware to latest versions

Good luck
Neill