Adding a Windows 2003 GC to a Windows 2000 AD

[Jan]

Hello,

Is the following possible:

I would like to "upgrade" our current Windows 2000 Active Directory to
a Windwos 2003 Active Directory. Could i just run the two following
commands:

ADPrep /forestprep
and
ADPrep /domainprep

And then bring a Windows 2003 server online and add it to the domain and
afterwards run dcpromo to add it as a domain controller. After that i would
like to make it the Global catalog server.
Is this the right way for doing this ?.

Thanks,
Jan -

 

[Gwilliam]

adprep will extend schema on 2000 domain to accomodate W2k03 server, this
can then join domain and you can select it for gc. yes that works

 

[Herb Martin]

Hello,

Is the following possible:

I would like to "upgrade" our current Windows 2000 Active Directory to
a Windwos 2003 Active Directory. Could i just run the two following
commands:

ADPrep /forestprep
and
ADPrep /domainprep

Yes -- sort of.

Easiest is to just put the CD in and upgrade one of your
existing DCs to Win2003 -- doing it this way will guide
you through forest and domain prep without ever needing
to explicitly type the commands.

Also note that the word 'just' might disappoint you:

You must have FULL replication in both the domain and in
the forest. Any abandoned DCs or Domains must first
be removed from AD with NTDSUtil.

(DCDiag or RepAdmin should help you determine this.)

And then bring a Windows 2003 server online and add it to the domain and
afterwards run dcpromo to add it as a domain controller. After that i
would
like to make it the Global catalog server.
Is this the right way for doing this ?.

As I said, upgrading a DC is usually easier but this works.

Also not there MAY be a misconception hidden in your
question: "THE Global Catalog Server"????

You may (and usually should) have more than one GC.

In a SMALL Forest or Single-Domain Forest you generally
can (should) make every DC a GC.

Generally you need at least one GC per Site, and more for
fault tolerance....

 

[Jan]

Thank you for your help.

/Jan -

Hello,

Is the following possible:

I would like to "upgrade" our current Windows 2000 Active Directory to
a Windwos 2003 Active Directory. Could i just run the two following
commands:

ADPrep /forestprep
and
ADPrep /domainprep

Yes -- sort of.

Easiest is to just put the CD in and upgrade one of your
existing DCs to Win2003 -- doing it this way will guide
you through forest and domain prep without ever needing
to explicitly type the commands.

Also note that the word 'just' might disappoint you:

You must have FULL replication in both the domain and in
the forest. Any abandoned DCs or Domains must first
be removed from AD with NTDSUtil.

(DCDiag or RepAdmin should help you determine this.)

And then bring a Windows 2003 server online and add it to the domain and
afterwards run dcpromo to add it as a domain controller. After that i
would
like to make it the Global catalog server.
Is this the right way for doing this ?.

As I said, upgrading a DC is usually easier but this works.

Also not there MAY be a misconception hidden in your
question: "THE Global Catalog Server"????

You may (and usually should) have more than one GC.

In a SMALL Forest or Single-Domain Forest you generally
can (should) make every DC a GC.

Generally you need at least one GC per Site, and more for
fault tolerance....

--
Herb Martin, MCSE, MVP
Accelerated MCSE
http://www.LearnQuick.Com
[phone number on web site]

 

[Laura E. Hunter [MVP]]

In broad strokes, you've got the correct steps there. Check the following
KB article to make sure that your existing environment is ready for the move
to 2003, particularly if you've got Exchange 2000 anywhere on your network:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=325379

HTH

 

[Jorge de Almeida Pinto [MVP]]

it also depends on what you have installed in the domain. see for more info:
http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/jorge/archive/2005/11/20/110.aspx

--

Cheers,
(HOPEFULLY THIS INFORMATION HELPS YOU!)
# Jorge de Almeida Pinto #
MVP Windows Server - Directory Services
BLOG --> http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/jorge/default.aspx

 

[Jan]

Hey,

One last ?.
Should the "old" Windows 2000 DC be removed ASAP when the new
Windows 2003 DC's are up and running or can they coexist for some time ?.

Thanks,
Jan -

"Jorge de Almeida Pinto [MVP]"

 

[Herb Martin]

Hey,

One last ?.
Should the "old" Windows 2000 DC be removed ASAP when the new
Windows 2003 DC's are up and running or can they coexist for some time ?.

They are designed to co-exist.

Some advanced Win2003 features may not be available
until they are removed (and the domains & forests upgraded
by the admin to Win2003 functional levels) but generally these
are not critical features in MOST environments.

It is a similar situation to retaining WinNT BDCs except that
in the BDC case you are more likely to be inconvenienced
by doing without the new features....