2003 server install to existing 2000 server AD

[Michael]

Hi,

Network of 60 users.
I have stand-alone NT servers, Netware 5 with NDS and
Windows 2000 server running Active directory.
All users are registered in Netware NDS.
Only R&D users are in Active directory.

In 1 week I must to install new Windows 2003 server that
will run new Financing software, which should be accessed
by all users.

Presently financing software run on NT4 stand-alone server.
All users have access to it.

First I planned to install 2003 server as stand alone
server and to use it as I used NT4.

My question:
I would like to use advantages of Active directory on 2003
server.
Can I install new active directory on 2003 server if there
is one on WIn 2000 server.
I can use the same name space on 2003 server.
Can I have two active directories?

2000 Active directory has his own Administrator.

I don't want to make any changes on 2000 server AD.

DNS presently run on 2000 server.

Windows 2003 server will run Great Plains financing
software and MS SQL.

What will be the right solution?

Sure that I will start to read about Active directory.

Thanks.
Michael.

 

[Matt Hickman]

In 1 week I must to install new Windows 2003 server that
will run new Financing software, which should be accessed
by all users.

My question:
I would like to use advantages of Active directory on 2003
server.
Can I install new active directory on 2003 server if there
is one on WIn 2000 server.
I can use the same name space on 2003 server.
Can I have two active directories?

2000 Active directory has his own Administrator.

I don't want to make any changes on 2000 server AD.

DNS presently run on 2000 server.

You can set up your Windows 2003 server as a member
server in the W2K domain. This will not impact your
W2K AD. Yet the server can take advantage of the W2K AD.

If you specifically need some Windows 2003 AD capability,
you could set up the 2003 server as a domain, distinct
from the W2K domain. This can be done as a child domain, its own tree.
or its own forest. Not sure if there would be any advantages
to any of these latter options.

To use the same name space, set up an alternate UPN suffix alias
by accessing the Active Directory Domains and Trusts snap-in. When
you open the snap-in, select Active Directory Domains and Trusts.
Click properties and put your new UPN suffixes in the Alternate
UPN Suffixes box. This is done from the root domain.

Then select the appropriate UPN suffix in the user properties
(account tab) for users.