Migration issue-ldifde

[Linn]

I am testing using the ldifde tool in advance of a
migration. I have copied ldifde to an XPpro workstation
and running it trying to export user accounts to a file
from a NT4 PDC. Each time I try to attach to the PDC I
get a connection failure followed by "The error code is
58". This is my first experience using ldifde. Can I use
it to export data from NT to a file so I can import it to
a Win2003 DC?

Situation - I have an old NT4 server that cannot be
upgraded to Win2K. I have a new Win2003 Small Business
Server that I want to setup as my new DC. I want to keep
the exact domain name that I currently am using and get
rid of the NT4 PDC.

Plan - I want to export the user and computer account
data from the NT4 PDC to a file. Setup the new Win2003
Server offline as a DC with the exact same domain name.
Import the file into the new DC. Take the NT4 PDC offline
and bring the Win2003 Server online.

This is a small domain and I could easily recreate the
accounts with little effort. I am trying to use this as a
learning experience in migration. My basic problem is
that the Netbios domain names of the two controllers have
to be different to do a direct migration and I want to
keep them the same. Any suggestions?

 

[Simon Geary]

ldifde is an LDAP tool that cannot be used on NT 4.0 domains.

The correct tool to use for migrating accounts between domains is usually
ADMTv2 although you would not be able to use it in this case because it
requires a trust between the two domains and you cannot have trusts in Small
Business Server 2003. This, along with your domain name requirements, rules
out any kind of live migration.

In your case if it's not a problem recreating the accounts manually that's
the route I would go down. You shouldn't be using your live domain for
testing anyway

 

[Mark]

There is a supported senario of using ADMTv2 on a migration such as this
(only with SBS 2003), but would require different domain names.

What you could try and use would be the addusers.exe from the resource kit.
This would allow export and import of the users. You can also import (sorry
no exporting here) the users passwords.This will also do groups. You will
have to edit the output file to remove any duplicate groups\users such as
administrators, account operators, etc.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;199878&Product=win2000