Are there any gotcha's I need to worry about if I change from mixed-to-native
mode in a pure Win2K environment?

In addition to my PDC, I have 2BDC and several member servers. All are at
SP3 or SP4. I also have a couple of 2003 member servers.

My Exchange 5.5 SP4 server is one of my BDC. I am also running ISA 2000 on
a member server. That server is also running RRAS for the purpose of VPNs to
remote sites (connecting to Win2K or 2003 member servers), employee VPNs via
broadband, and employee dial-up.

I am getting ready to move the entire organization to Windows 2003 Server
and Exchange 2003 Server, and I thought this would be the place to start.

TIA.
--
- Mark

Umm, anyone? Please?

"Mark C. Walton" wrote:

> Are there any gotcha's I need to worry about if I change from mixed-to-native
> mode in a pure Win2K environment?
>
> In addition to my PDC, I have 2BDC and several member servers. All are at
> SP3 or SP4. I also have a couple of 2003 member servers.
>
> My Exchange 5.5 SP4 server is one of my BDC. I am also running ISA 2000 on
> a member server. That server is also running RRAS for the purpose of VPNs to
> remote sites (connecting to Win2K or 2003 member servers), employee VPNs via
> broadband, and employee dial-up.
>
> I am getting ready to move the entire organization to Windows 2003 Server
> and Exchange 2003 Server, and I thought this would be the place to start.
>
> TIA.
> --
> - Mark

Hi Mark,

I don't know of any issues, but you are running Exchange 5.5? Does this
actually run under 2000? Maybe it does, I just seem to remember it as an
NT4 product. You have trashed all your old NT4 BDCs right? You have a
full backup with System State right? In that case I'd say you're ready
for native mode. Are you happy with your DNS?

Mark C. Walton wrote:

> Umm, anyone? Please?
>
> "Mark C. Walton" wrote:
>
>
>>Are there any gotcha's I need to worry about if I change from mixed-to-native
>>mode in a pure Win2K environment?
>>
>>In addition to my PDC, I have 2BDC and several member servers. All are at
>>SP3 or SP4. I also have a couple of 2003 member servers.
>>
>>My Exchange 5.5 SP4 server is one of my BDC. I am also running ISA 2000 on
>>a member server. That server is also running RRAS for the purpose of VPNs to
>>remote sites (connecting to Win2K or 2003 member servers), employee VPNs via
>>broadband, and employee dial-up.
>>
>>I am getting ready to move the entire organization to Windows 2003 Server
>>and Exchange 2003 Server, and I thought this would be the place to start.
>>
>>TIA.
>>--
>>- Mark


--
Gerry Hickman (London UK)

Hi Gerry,

I have installed and am running in one of our remote sites a Exchange 5.5
server on a 200 server running in AD Native mode and it is more stable then
on my NT4 box?? Go figure.

I have the same question relating to the migration from Mixed to Native. I
have 3 Exchange servers running NT4, but I no longer have any NT DC's. I am
looking to move to Native to come in line with the rest of the forest, we are
a child domain.

All I was looking for was any 'look out' for's before moving as I know this
is a one way process otherwise restore. I have an old NT4 BDC that I can
probably sync prior to 'THE CLICK', I can also, maybe shut down my 'BDC'
incase of a failure in the conversion? What impact would this have on the new
domain structure?

Many thanks for your help

"Gerry Hickman" wrote:

> Hi Mark,
>
> I don't know of any issues, but you are running Exchange 5.5? Does this
> actually run under 2000? Maybe it does, I just seem to remember it as an
> NT4 product. You have trashed all your old NT4 BDCs right? You have a
> full backup with System State right? In that case I'd say you're ready
> for native mode. Are you happy with your DNS?
>
> Mark C. Walton wrote:
>
> > Umm, anyone? Please?
> >
> > "Mark C. Walton" wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Are there any gotcha's I need to worry about if I change from mixed-to-native
> >>mode in a pure Win2K environment?
> >>
> >>In addition to my PDC, I have 2BDC and several member servers. All are at
> >>SP3 or SP4. I also have a couple of 2003 member servers.
> >>
> >>My Exchange 5.5 SP4 server is one of my BDC. I am also running ISA 2000 on
> >>a member server. That server is also running RRAS for the purpose of VPNs to
> >>remote sites (connecting to Win2K or 2003 member servers), employee VPNs via
> >>broadband, and employee dial-up.
> >>
> >>I am getting ready to move the entire organization to Windows 2003 Server
> >>and Exchange 2003 Server, and I thought this would be the place to start.
> >>
> >>TIA.
> >>--
> >>- Mark
>
>
> --
> Gerry Hickman (London UK)
>

Hi there Gerry -

Yes, I have been running Exchange 5.5 on Win2K for a long while...

Also, I have no NT4 servers at all anymore and yes, I run a System State
backup every night. DNS is operating perfectly.

My main concern I guess was either my Exchange Server becoming hosed somehow
(since it is a BDC) or my RRAS configuration - which is fairly complicated
and took me a long time to get pretty bulletproof as far as reliablility -
getting dorked up due to different securities or something. Also, clients
losing access for the same reason (all cleints are at Win2K or XP Pro).

I know when I go to native mode, AD is changed in some ways, and that is
what makes me nervous.

"Gerry Hickman" wrote:

> Hi Mark,
>
> I don't know of any issues, but you are running Exchange 5.5? Does this
> actually run under 2000? Maybe it does, I just seem to remember it as an
> NT4 product. You have trashed all your old NT4 BDCs right? You have a
> full backup with System State right? In that case I'd say you're ready
> for native mode. Are you happy with your DNS?
>
> Mark C. Walton wrote:
>
> > Umm, anyone? Please?
> >
> > "Mark C. Walton" wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Are there any gotcha's I need to worry about if I change from mixed-to-native
> >>mode in a pure Win2K environment?
> >>
> >>In addition to my PDC, I have 2BDC and several member servers. All are at
> >>SP3 or SP4. I also have a couple of 2003 member servers.
> >>
> >>My Exchange 5.5 SP4 server is one of my BDC. I am also running ISA 2000 on
> >>a member server. That server is also running RRAS for the purpose of VPNs to
> >>remote sites (connecting to Win2K or 2003 member servers), employee VPNs via
> >>broadband, and employee dial-up.
> >>
> >>I am getting ready to move the entire organization to Windows 2003 Server
> >>and Exchange 2003 Server, and I thought this would be the place to start.
> >>
> >>TIA.
> >>--
> >>- Mark
>
>
> --
> Gerry Hickman (London UK)
>

Oh, and thanks!!

"Gerry Hickman" wrote:

> Hi Mark,
>
> I don't know of any issues, but you are running Exchange 5.5? Does this
> actually run under 2000? Maybe it does, I just seem to remember it as an
> NT4 product. You have trashed all your old NT4 BDCs right? You have a
> full backup with System State right? In that case I'd say you're ready
> for native mode. Are you happy with your DNS?
>
> Mark C. Walton wrote:
>
> > Umm, anyone? Please?
> >
> > "Mark C. Walton" wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Are there any gotcha's I need to worry about if I change from mixed-to-native
> >>mode in a pure Win2K environment?
> >>
> >>In addition to my PDC, I have 2BDC and several member servers. All are at
> >>SP3 or SP4. I also have a couple of 2003 member servers.
> >>
> >>My Exchange 5.5 SP4 server is one of my BDC. I am also running ISA 2000 on
> >>a member server. That server is also running RRAS for the purpose of VPNs to
> >>remote sites (connecting to Win2K or 2003 member servers), employee VPNs via
> >>broadband, and employee dial-up.
> >>
> >>I am getting ready to move the entire organization to Windows 2003 Server
> >>and Exchange 2003 Server, and I thought this would be the place to start.
> >>
> >>TIA.
> >>--
> >>- Mark
>
>
> --
> Gerry Hickman (London UK)
>

Hi Mark,

> Yes, I have been running Exchange 5.5 on Win2K for a long while...
>
> Also, I have no NT4 servers at all anymore and yes, I run a System State
> backup every night. DNS is operating perfectly.

OK that all sounds good.

I only run System State once per week and I've no idea if I could
restore it, as I've never had a spare identical server to test it on.

> My main concern I guess was either my Exchange Server becoming hosed somehow
> (since it is a BDC)

But isn't it the case that there's no such thing as a BDC under Win2k,
or is that only AFTER the switch?

> or my RRAS configuration - which is fairly complicated

You should probably do some searches on this just in case. I do remember
some issues with RAS, but not specific to native mode.

> getting dorked up due to different securities or something. Also, clients
> losing access for the same reason (all cleints are at Win2K or XP Pro).

Which is the best and why (Win2k or XP) ?

> I know when I go to native mode, AD is changed in some ways, and that is
> what makes me nervous.

Yes, but once you've got full replication it becomes less of a worry,
and after the switch it's a much better world to live in.

--
Gerry Hickman (London UK)