Windows 2000 Server as an NT Domain Controller???

[wisdomwarrior23]

I understand the benefits of using active directory in Windows 2000 Server, but I received a request from an operations manager to find out if this could be done! He wants to use Windows 2000 Server as a PDC on an NT network, basically he doesn't want to migrate his entire network to active directory, if they decide to use Windows 2000. Any guidance is very appeciated.

 

[hewissa]

Can't be done. To promote the 2K machine to controller status one needs to run dcpromo. That then begins the promotion wizard and, in a sense the AD installation. On an NT domain, the 2k server is a member server. Runnig dcpromo on a member server creates a new 2K Domain. Installing 2K on a BDC also begins the AD installation and will conflit with the exsisting NT PDC.

Basically you can't have a mixed mode NT domain, but you can have a mixed 2K domain.

Why not move to a mixed 2K domain?

Hewissa

MCSE, CCNA, CIW

 

[wisdomwarrior23]

That does sound like a good idea, please explain a little further what steps I would need to make to go forward with the Windows 2K Mixed Mode Domain.

 

[hewissa]

Your objective is to keep the existing user accounts and domain intact, judging from you original post. The jist of the operation is as follows:

I would Synch your PDC's and BDC's.
Take a BDC offline - for backup/emergency purposes
Install 2K on the NT PDC
You can then run dcpromo on the 2K member server.
When everything has replicated (give it 24 hours) and stable bring the BDC back online.

Basically that's it, based upon the info you have provided. What is the configuration of your network? How farmiliar are you with Windows 2000? I would do some further reading on the subject before making any serious moves.




Hewissa

MCSE, CCNA, CIW

 

[wisdomwarrior23]

The network has two domains, my domain is fairly simple really only about 12 users on it and 1 PDC running WINS, DNS services and acting as a print server for four network printers, no BDCs. The server doesn't even have home directories for the users! Its a pretty simple network, the other domain really has the bulk of all the NT servers. I just came on board with this company so I don't know all the specifics, but I'm pretty familiar with Windows 2000 Server but to be honest with you though, I will study up on this a bit more, because I still don't have a full picture of how their network works and is configured.

 

[hewissa]

I can't log onto the MSDN site but I did find this page to get you started. It is a pretty streight forward procedure. An "in place" upgrade is pretty fool proof, but for safety measures, I always place a BDC offline, should the upgrade fail and the PDC crashes. Should that happen, you simply bring the offline BDC online and promote it to PDC status, and the "original" network configuration is restored.

If you are unsure, do some reading, never hurts. Check this link

http://www.jsiinc.com/subh/tip3800/rh3822.htm

Hewissa

MCSE, CCNA, CIW

 

[wisdomwarrior23]

Thanks for the link and tips, I think the Ops manager at my company doesn't like Active Directory or maybe he doesn't know quite how to work it yet, but I think its much better than NT Domains.