Promote to AD in an NT server domain

[Craig]

What would happen if you have a win2k member server in an NT4 domain (with
PDC and BDCs on line) to active directory. How about if you did it with the
NT DCs offline?

CR

 

[Danny Sanders]

What would happen if you have a win2k member server in an NT4 domain (with

PDC and BDCs on line) to active directory.

During dcpromo you will be asked if this is the first server in the domain.
If you say no, you will be required to point it to a Win 2k AD server or the
install will fail. If you say yes you will be creating a new domain. Since
you did not upgrade the existing NT 4.0 PDC to Win 2k you did not bring the
ONLY writeable copy of the SAM into the Win 2k domain. Different SAM =
different domain. In this case you would have to use ADMT to migrate your
users to the new domain.

How about if you did it with the

NT DCs offline?

Same thing. If you upgrade *any* other server/BDC before upgrading the
existing PDC first, the above scenario will take place.

hth
DDS W 2k MVP MCSE

 

[Craig]

Thanks, guess it will be a new domain as my boss refuses to upgrade the
older NT4 boxes. Can I later move them into the new ad as nt4 servers?

cr

 

[Danny Sanders]

Can I later move them into the new ad as nt4 servers?
The Win 2k DC will be in one domain and the NT 4.0 DCs will be in another
domain. There is no MS supported way to move an NT 4.0 DC to another domain
other than reinstalling.

See:
How to Set Up ADMT for Windows NT 4.0 to Windows 2000 Migration

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;260871



This article details how to migrate users from the old NT 4.0 domain to the
new Win 2k domain. You should be aware that a trust is required to use the
ADMT. If you need to keep the same domain name you will need to work out how
to change the domain name on the NT 4.0 domain BEFORE setting the trust.
Changing the domain name of a Win 2k domain set up to work with the ADMT
(native mode) can ONLY be done during an upgrade to Win 2k3.

hth
DDS W 2k MVP MCSE

 

[Enkidu]

You could bring the new box into the Domain with NT4 installed as a
BDC. Then promote it to PDC, then upgrade it to Win2k/Active
Directory. The older machines would quite happily continue to function
as BDCs until they get schedule for removal. If you already have stuff
on the Win2k box that won't work of course.

In which case you could hire a box for a few weeks, install NT4 BDC,
promote to PDC, upgrade it to Win2K/Active Directory. Then dcpromo the
existing win2k to a DC, transfer all roles to the existing Win2K box,
and dcpromo the hire box to member server and remove it.

Cheers,

Cliff

(MVP)