Upgrade from Windows 2000 domain to Windows server 2003?

[Alex Anderson]

Hello everyone,

I couldn't find a Windows server 2003 forum, but I'm doing some research
for upgrading my domain to 2003 and was wondering if someone could post some
links or resources that will help me. Currently I have some Microsoft
Project Guides explaining the process, but was wondering if there were some
third party real-world guides out there?

Thank you
Alex Anderson

 

[Chriss3 [MVP]]

Hello Alex,
You have several options here.
The first thing to do is to prep the Active Directory Schema to support
Windows Server 2003 Domain Controllers.
See the link below for more information about Adprep:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...sServ/2003/standard/proddocs/en-us/adprep.asp

You can do an inplace upgrade of one or all your Windows 2000 Domain
Controllers to Windows Server 2003 by just insert the Windows Server 2003 CD
into the current DCs and upgrade, this have some disadvantages since all new
features doesn't become active by default.

What I recommend is to rebuild the current DCs one after one, what you need
to do is to demote it, ensure its removed successfully from the directory.
Do an clean install of Windows Server 2003 and dcpromo it back.

When all Domain Controllers in the domain are running Windows Server 2003
you can rise the domain functional level to Windows Server 2003 to take
advantages of all new features. as well when all Domain Controllers in the
entire forest running Windows Server 2003 you can rise the forest functional
level to Windows Server 2003. Some of the improved features in Windows
Server 2003 Active Directory will be available as soon the first Windows
Server 2003 DC is inplace.

If you not are happy with your current directory structure you may wish to
restructuring your domains and forests instead.
Then have a look at the Restructuring Active Directory Domains Between
Forests section of the Designing and Deploying Directory and Security
Services Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...003/all/deployguide/en-us/dssbi_reer_wnjz.asp



--
Regards
Christoffer Andersson
Microsoft MVP - Directory Services

No email replies please - reply in the newsgroup

 

[Alex Anderson]

Mr. Andersson,

Thank you for the informative reply. I only have one forest and two
sites. At the first site, I have three DC's, one running Exchang 2000 on
it, not a GC, another running GC, and the other running all roles plus GC.
At my other site, just one DC with GC. So from what I got from the reader's
digest version, I do an in place upgrade on my DC running the operation
masters to windows 2003. DCpromo out all other DCs from all sites, then
bring them back into the 2003 domain. As for my DC that has exchange 2000
on it, it would probably be advantageous to do the exchange 2003 update
first? I have a new server that I want exchange 2003 onto, so I should
probably do that first before doing the windows 2003 domain update? Am I on
the right track?

Thank you
Alex Anderson

 

[Chriss3 [MVP]]

Hello,
I suggest to you to the adprep as the first thing you doing.
Second upgrade Exchange 2000 to Exchange 2003 (You are on the right way
there) since Exchange 2000 can't run on Windows Server 2003.

--
Regards
Christoffer Andersson
Microsoft MVP - Directory Services

No email replies please - reply in the newsgroup