Windows 2k Server installation 2

[rdgordon]

I have a NT 4.0 PDC and BDC. I have a brand new server that i want to install with w2k server and then eliminate the existing two nt 4.0 servers, they are old and have no useful purpose. I need to get data off of teh nt 4.0 pdc though (then BDC has nothing on it besides o/s). What is the best strategy to pursue.
Thanks

 

[brontosaurus]

Easiest Method: (Briefly)

Install new server as NT4 BDC.
Promote new server to PDC.
Take one of your BDC's offline in case of disaster.
Allow time for replication, and double check it's completion
Upgrade new server to W2K

This method will preserve all of your accounts, etc...

Note I say this is the easiest method. Many folks will tell you (and rightfully so) that there's nothing like a clean install to get your domain up and running. You can go this route, there's just alot more manual work to do....

 

[GlenJohnson]

As usual, Brontosaurus is right. Here's what happened to us. We had an old nt4 box years ago just for testing. Boss was thinking of leaving Novell. Since we didn't really do any real authentication stuff, this instance isn't quite the same as your's, but we experienced no problems when we upgraded the nt4 box to w2k. It's now our oldest box, but it's a dc which replicates with another dc. I'd go the route brontosaurus suggested. The nice thing about doing it this way, you can then take your other servers, the bdc's, f-disk them and put a clean install on them once you're sure everything is working. Good luck. Glen A. Johnson
Microsoft Certified Professional
glen@nellsgiftbox.com

"A single stone can cause a building to collapse."
Francisco de Quevedo y Villegas (1580-1645); Spanish writer.

 

[Hungster]

Glen,

i have a question regarding configuring name on win2k dc
is it a virtual dns entry or a internal domain name ?
i got a bit confused on those detail

especially in windows 2k's TCP/IP settings under the DNS tab, there is a setting down right at the bottom, my friend told me to leave it blank
just wonder what exactly that refer to "Register this connection's addresses in DNS" and Use this connection's DNS suffix in DNS registration"
is it within Win2k Domain or a real ISP DNS entry ?

 

[GlenJohnson]

I'm not quite sure I understand the question, but here's how I have my network setup. We have two dns servers. We also recieve dns from our isp. All of my pc's in the shop point only to our two dns servers. The two dns servers look to themselves and the two dns servers of our isp. The reason I do this is that all of the pc's in the shop will only go in the back room for name resolution. If the server in the back room has the name in cache, then the workstation is sent to that location. If the server in back doesn't have the name in cache, they go to our dns servers. This way, the workstations only go to the local dns servers, giving them better response time. I hope this helps. (Bottom line, I don't keep the box blank, I have the dns entries there.) Glen A. Johnson
Microsoft Certified Professional
glen@nellsgiftbox.com

"A single stone can cause a building to collapse."
Francisco de Quevedo y Villegas (1580-1645); Spanish writer.

 

[Hungster]

yup that's what i thought

but under Win2k 's TCP/IP settings under the DNS tab, there is a setting down right at the bottom, my friend told me to leave it un-checked
just wonder what exactly that refer to "Register this connection's addresses in DNS" and Use this connection's DNS suffix in DNS registration"

 

[brontosaurus]

Register this connection's addresses in DNS = let this workstation/server dynamically update,whatever DNS server it uses for resolution, with it's IP address. In other words, the machine boots with an IP address, and when the 2K OS loads, the machine sends an update packet to the local DNS server with it's configuration.

Use this connections DNS suffix in DNS registration = you have the ability to change the DNS suffix used by a network connection of any machine in your domain. Normally, you wouldn't do that, so the machine would register itself using your domain name as it's suffix. However, if you do change this, and you'd like the machine to show up in DNS with that suffix, this option allows for that.

Unchecking both of these options effectively disables Dynamic DNS registration. UNLESS, you use DHCP, and authorize the DHCP server to register connections for you.

 

[Hungster]

Thanks Martin

 

[rdgordon]

ok if i install nt4 on new server with intentions of doing promotion to pdc and upgrading i can handle that and it sounds great, but when you install 4.0 the partition size is 4gb. I have an array controller with raid 5 (3 18gb hd's and 1 18gb as online spare) and i have one big 36gb drive. Then then nt 4.0 can only create a 4gb partition, and i want to have a 36 gb drive with a 36gb partion. can i do that or is that not a good idea.

 

[Beaghler]

Not quite clear. Do you have the 36 Gb RAID and another 36 Gb disk? If so, try this: On the array, make "C" the allowable 4 Gb. Install nothing but Windows OS related products. Make a 32 Gb "D" and keep critical data on this drive, as you have some redundancy with the hot spare option. Make the other drive an "E" and use it for less critical stuff and install applications on it, including antivirus, backup, service packs, etc. that you would have to reinstall anyway if something failed. Don't span volumes across drives that aren't RAIDed, therein lies the path to ruin and possible unemployment.

If you have only the 36 Gb RAID, disregard the part about "E".

 

[rdgordon]

The problem is that 4gb is really not big enough to have as a "c" partition with w2k server, so before i upgrade from 4.0 to w2k i would like to expand that. Will Partion magic do it, if it will how, it says it won't install on nt 4.0 server.