NT4.0 PDC & 2000 AD questions

[Harryman69]

Hello all,
I'm trying to Administer a network that has been patched together over
the years and need some help.

I'm currently in the process of implementing a VPN-WAN between two
offices.
Office 1.....One machine as NT Server and PDC...approx 30 users
Office 2.....One machine as 2kAD Server.....approx 10 users

Problem...both offices are currently using the same domain name.
After I get the WAN implemented, what should I do?

Demote Server @ Office 2 to member server, and leave NT Server as PDC?
Upgrade Server @ Office 1 to 2kServer and demote Office 2 Server to
member??

Or am I completely out to lunch here???

any help would be great.

Mike

 

[Enkidu]

Hello all,
I'm trying to Administer a network that has been patched together over
the years and need some help.

I'm currently in the process of implementing a VPN-WAN between two
offices.
Office 1.....One machine as NT Server and PDC...approx 30 users
Office 2.....One machine as 2kAD Server.....approx 10 users

Problem...both offices are currently using the same domain name.
After I get the WAN implemented, what should I do?

Demote Server @ Office 2 to member server, and leave NT Server as PDC?

Result: no domain @ office 2 and 10 unhappy users. However you could
then upgrade the office one domain to AD and then repromote the office
2 server and join the office 1 domain.

Upgrade Server @ Office 1 to 2kServer and demote Office 2 Server to
member??

Result, no domain @ office 2 and 10 unhappy users. However you could
then repromote the office 2 server.

Or am I completely out to lunch here???

Well you cannot merge 2 domains. So you are between a rock and a hard
place.

I suggest that you consider the following:

1) Upgrade the Domain at office 1 to AD. Note that it is still a
separate Domain to the Office 2 Domain.

2) Install an office 1 Domain Controller at office. By this I mean
that the DC belongs to office 1's Domain.

3) Migrate the users at office 2 to the office 1 Domain,

4) Demote the office 2 DC. This removes the office 2 Domain.

5) Promote it to a DC in office 1 Domain @ office 2.

6) (Optional) Demote the office 1 DC you installed at step 2 and
recover it for use elsewhere.

Result: One Domain, two sites. Users will never be happy, but they
will be less unhappy than otherwise!

I'm not sure what you mean by "both offices are currently using the
same domain name". The name of an NT domain is eg "DOMAIN1". The name
of a 2000 AD Domain is "DOMAIN1.company.com". If you are saying that
the DNS suffix used in both sites is "company.com", then this is not a
big problem if you don't mind changing the DNS suffix in office 1, the
NT Domain, since this can be changed. You can't change it in the AD
domain.

Cheers,

Cliff

{MVP Directory Services}