NT Domain / Active Directory setup question...

[Jeff Williams]

I've been given the task to look into migrating our current NT domain
to an active directory setup. I have a couple concerns/questions on
the best way of doing this.

We currently have an old (and I mean old) NT domain setup, therefore
we are wanting to get new hardware for this implementation. We also
have a couple of MSMQ machines that were setup back in the past with
their own Active Directory setup...

My question is this, would it be logical if I want to create a whole
new "Domain" in Active Directory with the new hardware and software
and slowly peel everything off of the old NT domain and put it onto
the new Active Directory setup? Also in doing this, would the MSMQ
machines freak out if another Active Directory setup comes online?
(Can I have an NT Domain "XYZ", Active Directory "ABC" and a new
Active Directory "EFG" on the same network without any problems?)

Or am I thinking of this the wrong way and should just go with the
upgrade of the new hardware as a BDC, promote it, and upgrade that
way?

Within this implementation I am also planning on upgrading our
exchange 5.5 server to either exchange 2000 or 2003... (I'm at least
about to try the 180 day trials of Server 2003 and Exchange 2003)

Any help on this issue or directions to online documentation that
would be of assistance would be greatly appreciated. (Also which
books might be of help for this problem)

 

[Matjaz Ladava]

Hi Jeff,

Depending on you old mess, you have to decide, if you want a clean setup or
upgrade old domain. You have to know, that upgrade is less painful and
requires less work than setting up a new domain and the migrating objects
using ADMT tool.
Other AD's won't freak out if another AD is introduced to the network, as
long as:
- it has a different DNS and
- it has a different NetBios name.

I would suggest you to rather install Windows Server 2003 and Exchange 2003
(when available), as this products are (in my opinion) better choice Over
Windows 2000 and Exchange 2000. Especially Exchange 2003 is my favorite
(think OWA).
What is your organization size ?

--
Regards

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