Server 2000 BDCs in NT4 domain

[DeNacho]

I'm getting conflicting messages here in our dept about
whether we can designate some of our 2000 Server machines
to be DCs in our current NT4 domain. Our PDC and all BDCs
at present are NT4. We are slowly migrating to a 2000
environment - we're hindered by software constraints in
our healthcare environment. Any suggestions, insights,
article references? This "extreme newbie" could use the
help!

 

[Oli Restorick [MVP]]

No -- once a domain has a WIndows 2000 domain controller it is a Windows
2000 Active Directory domain.

However, you can have Windows 2000 domain controllers and Windows NT domain
controllers co-existing. As far as one NT4 BDC is concerned, however, one
2000 domain controller is the PDC (the one with the PDC FSMO role) and all
other domain controllers are BDCs.

Oli

 

[DeNacho]

So I apologize in advance for this question: How
difficult is that to do and would my domain notice
an "interruption in service" if I make a 2000 machine a DC
and get rid of my NT4 PDC altogether (it's going to be
phased out anyway)? All my 2000 machines are currently
just "regular" servers. Is it possible to give me some
sort of "generic" scenario? Again, apologies for trying
to simplify this too much, but I'm trying to start at the
high-level and move my way down.

 

[Danny Sanders]

See:
How to Set Up ADMT for Windows NT 4.0 to Windows 2000 Migration

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;260871

How To: Upgrade Windows NT Server 4.0 to Windows 2000 Server

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298107





These are 2 different ways to move from NT 4.0 to Win 2k.



Another way would be to remove Win 2k from one of your "new" servers and
install NT 4.0 on it as a BDC while connected to your existing domain,
promote it to PDC then upgrade it to Win 2k.



hth

DDS W 2k MVP MCSE

 

[Oli Restorick [MVP]]

My personal preference is to migrate away to a nice clean AD infrastructure.
This is on the basis that your NT4 domain is probably (like most) a bit of a
mess by now.

I can't really give you tips to make everything smooth, as that requires a
great deal of planning and reading up. Only you can do that, because only
you know the ins and outs of your network. I don't think there are any real
shortcuts.

I will make a book recommendation, though. Get "Mastering Windows 2000
Server" by Mark Minasi, et al. The Publisher is Sybex. There's a more
recent book called "Mastering Windows Server 2003", which also serves as a
good 2000 reference.

If you do decide to do an in-place upgrade of your NT4 domain, bear in mind
that you need to upgrade the PDC first. However, this isn't so restrictive
as it sounds, as you can promote whichever of your NT4 domain controllers
you want to upgrade before you do it.

Regards

Oli

 

[DeNacho]

Thanks so much to both of your replies. I have the Minasi
book and have been trying to work my way through it. I'm
a newbie and having to learn a lot of this as I go - trial
by fire unfortunately. But you've both given me some good
starts for further research. thanks!