NT to W2k upgrade/migration questions

[MJS]

We currently have 1 NT4.0 PDC and 2 BDC's. We also have 2 Windows 2000
member servers in addition to 2 other NT4.0 member servers.

We currently run WINS but aren't running DNS or DHCP. My plan is
to take one of the BDC's offline. I'm going to demote the PDC
to a BCD because it's the BDC machine that we want to upgrade and become
the new DC.

But before we do this I believe that I should set up a DNS server. I was
thinking of using one of the existing W2k servers for that. Will that
work, or should I install DNS on one of the NT servers that won't be
upgraded right away? Any other considerations I should have?

Do we HAVE to use DHCP?

TIA for any/all replies!

-M

 

[Danny Sanders]

You can not "demote" a NT 4.0 PDC, you can only promote a BDC to PDC and in
the process your PDC is demoted to BDC.

You MUST upgrade the PDC of your existing domain first. The PDC is the ONLY
DC on a NT 4.0 domain that holds a writeable copy of the SAM. Upgrading any
other server will create a new SAM. New SAM = New domain.

Upgrade your PDC to Win 2k then install and use Win 2k's DNS.
How to: Configure DNS for Internet Access In Windows 2000

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;300202

Setting Up the Domain Name System for Active Directory

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;237675



hth

DDS W 2k MVP MCSE

 

[MJS]

6 months ago our network was like this:
1 NT PDC called MATRIX_1
1 NT BDC called MATRIX_2

We promoted MATRIX_2 to the PDC, which demoted MATRIX_1 to a BDC.
We added another NT BDC, MATRIX_3

We want to make MATRIX_3 the win2K DC.
Our plan was to take MATRIX_1 offline, promote MATRIX_3 to the PDC,
automatically demoting MATRIX_2 to the
other BDC. Before we did this we were going to install DNS on our current
NT system (we were advised that this would
make the migration/upgrade to win2K much easier).

If I'm reading you right, are you saying that MATRIX_1 is the machine we
should upgrade because it was the original PDC and only it has a writeable
copy of the SAM?

Also, we have 3 other NT member servers and 2 win2K file and application
servers. Can DNS be installed on any of the other NT
servers, or does it have to be installed on a PDC or BDC?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Danny Sanders]

We promoted MATRIX_2 to the PDC, which demoted MATRIX_1 to a BDC.

We added another NT BDC, MATRIX_3

The promotion of Matrix_2 to PDC created a writeable copy of the SAM on
Matrix_2 and changed the copy of the SAM held on Matrix_1 to read only.

We added another NT BDC, MATRIX_3

We want to make MATRIX_3 the win2K DC.
Our plan was to take MATRIX_1 offline, promote MATRIX_3 to the PDC,
automatically demoting MATRIX_2 to the
other BDC.

As long as you are still running NT 4.0 at this point you will be OK.


Before we did this we were going to install DNS on our current

NT system (we were advised that this would
make the migration/upgrade to win2K much easier).

I would suggest putting DNS on the first Win 2k DC.
See:
How to: Configure DNS for Internet Access In Windows 2000

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;300202

Setting Up the Domain Name System for Active Directory

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;237675

If I'm reading you right, are you saying that MATRIX_1 is the machine we
should upgrade because it was the original PDC and only it has a writeable
copy of the SAM?

The writeable copy of the SAM is held on your existing PDC ONLY. It will
transfer to another DC by promoting it to PDC.

Also, we have 3 other NT member servers and 2 win2K file and application
servers. Can DNS be installed on any of the other NT
servers, or does it have to be installed on a PDC or BDC?

You can. If you do I would suggest 2 Win 2k member servers. This would
support the primary secondary model of DNS.

If you were to Install DNS on 2 or more Win 2k domain controllers, you can
make your DNS zone AD integrated. Your DNS info will be replicated along
with your domain info. The replication between DCs is secure and there will
be no need for a "second" replication process solely for DNS. For AD
Integrated DNS to work you must install DNS on more than 1 Win 2k DC. I
would suggest using AD integrated DNS.



See:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;227844&Product=win2000

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/howitworks/communications/nameadrmgmt/w2kdns.asp





hth

DDS W 2k MVP MCSE

 

[MJS]

Thanks for all the info, Danny.
Right now we are only going to have one w2K DC. We can keep the other 2 NT
BDCs and run in mixed mode, can we not?
I know you're suggesting installing DNS AFTER the upgrade, but if we
installed it prior and had it running on one of the NT
Servers would that be ok? Could we install it on the NT PDC that we're
going to upgrade? There will be nothing else running
on that server except AD.

 

[Danny Sanders]

Right now we are only going to have one w2K DC. We can keep the other 2
NT

BDCs and run in mixed mode, can we not?

Yes you can.

Could we install it on the NT PDC that we're

going to upgrade? There will be nothing else running
on that server except AD.

I would opt for this route rather than installing it on a separate NT 4.0
computer.

hth
DDS W 2k MVP MCSE