2 DCs are both Win2K

[Vincent Li]

Currently we have one Windows 2000 server as DC and
Exchange. Now, we're getting a new server and want to
configure it (Windows 2000 server too) as only for DC
role; and let the old server only for Exchange.

My question is, how do I install the new Win2k server to
replace the old DC? I have ran a mental steps on how to do
it and hope someone would correct me.

1. Install the new Win2k server.
2. Promote this Win2k server to a DC. So there will be 2
DCs in the domain. (Any problem with 2 DCs are both Win2K
versions?)
3. Replicate all the AD stuff from the old Win2k server to
new Win2k server. (How to do it?)
4. Demote the Win2k DC to a member server(only for
Exchange).
5. By now, the new Win2k server has fully taken over the
DC role.

May I know are my steps correct? or I have missed out some
important steps? Any comments or help is greatly
appreciated.

 

[Tim Hines [MSFT]]

In addition to those steps you should make sure that you make the new DC a
Global Catalog before you demote the old one. You should also manually
transfer all of the FSMO roles before you demote it. The demotion process
should transfer the roles to the new server automatically but I think its
better to do it manually just in case there are errors during the demotion.

--
Tim Hines, MCSE, MCSA
Windows 2000 Directory Services

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[Vincent]

Thanks for the reply.

Do you have any article or URL link for reference?

Vincent

 

[Matjaz Ladava [MVP]]

Hi Vincent,

You are right, that you have to install a w2k server and then promote it to
dc using dcpromo procedure. Replication of AD will take place automatically,
so you don't have to worry about that. I would strongly suggest you to keep
the old DC also as DC, as it is always best to have 2 DC's in AD environment
(for Fault tolerance). Also make the new DC a DNS server and point all your
clients/servers to them. Make it also a Global Catalog server. This will
improve your AD stability. Is there any reason that you don't want to have
Exchange on your DC as I presume you have a small network.

--
Regards

Matjaz Ladava, MCSE (NT4 & 2000), Windows MVP
(e-mail address removed)
http://ladava.com