active directory and nt4 domains

[Craig]

Am running an NT4 domain with PDC and 2 BDCs. I dont want to upgrade all
DCs, I just want to add a windows 2K server with Active directory. Can you
have AD in the same domain as PDC and BDCs? what would happen? Any good
reading resources would be appreciated.

regards

craig

 

[Danny Sanders]

Can you

have AD in the same domain as PDC and BDCs?

No. you would have two separate domains.

When adding AD you are asked if this is the first DC in the domain, if you
say no you will be required to provide a Win 2k AD DC to join this DC to.
Since you don't have a Win 2k AD DC to point your "first" AD DC to (you can
only point it to a NT 4.0 DC) the AD install will fail.
If you say yes this is the first DC in the domain, you will be creating a
NEW domain. This domain will have a different SID from your NT 4.0 domain.
In order to bring the NT 4.0 SID (of your existing domain) into the Win 2k
domain you MUST upgrade the PDC of your existing domain. (It is the ONLY DC
in an NT 4.0 domain that holds a writeable copy of the SAM).

Reading:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/en/server/help/

hth
DDS W 2k MVP MCSE