Upgrading Domain

[Guest]

I currently have a windows 2000 domain server that I ran:
adprep /forestprep
adprep /domianprep
I ran them off of the win2003 disk in preperation of upgrading to win 2003.
I had another server running windows 2003 which I promoted to a domain
controller and transferred all of the FSMO roles over to it.
This has been done for quite a while now and I have no intention of
upgrading the old 2000 domain controller to 2003. Can I safely dcpromo the
2000 server out of the domain? My hesistation in doing this is that I never
did the upgrade to 2003 and dunno if It is needed to completely upgrade my
domain to 2003. From the reading I have done it sounds like just doing the
adprep accomplished everything I needed for a 100% 2003 domain. Any advice,
hints, articles, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Herb Martin]

I currently have a windows 2000 domain server that I ran:
adprep /forestprep
adprep /domianprep
I ran them off of the win2003 disk in preperation of upgrading to win
2003.
I had another server running windows 2003 which I promoted to a domain
controller and transferred all of the FSMO roles over to it.

Then the upgrade is complete.

You really should run a complete "DCDiag /c" (reguarly) to ensure that are
no FAIL or WARN messages and everything is working correctly.

This has been done for quite a while now and I have no intention of
upgrading the old 2000 domain controller to 2003. Can I safely dcpromo
the
2000 server out of the domain?
Yes.

My hesistation in doing this is that I never
did the upgrade to 2003 and dunno if It is needed to completely upgrade my
domain to 2003.

No. One Win2003 DC in a domain constitutes the upgrade of the doman (in
some sense the ADPreps do this but most of us would expect at least one
Win2003 DC before saying that.)

From the reading I have done it sounds like just doing the
adprep accomplished everything I needed for a 100% 2003 domain. Any
advice,
hints, articles, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

You transferred FSMO. How about GC? Make sure you have a GC (in a single
domain forest every DC should be a GC.)

Make sure you have the DNS Server(s) available; and if you use WINS the WINS
server(s) too.

Ensure that all clients know about any moved DNS servers on the NIC
properties.
(DNS clients INCLUDE DCs themselves which many people often overlook.)

 

[Guest]

Herb -

Thanks for the quick response. I have never ran DCDiag /c but will look
into it. I will also check on the GC role. I have already got DNS working on
the win2K server as well as switched the clients via DHCP over to it. The
old Win2K domain controller is still running WINS and I have not switched
that over but was thinking I would just do away with WINS and just use DNS
only.

 

[Herb Martin]

Herb -

Thanks for the quick response. I have never ran DCDiag /c but will look
into it.

Run it regularly on every DC locally, and before any planned maintenance on
DCs/DNS or as soon as you expect any trouble. Make the habit of always
sending the output to a text file so you can search it easily for FAIL and
WARN.

I will also check on the GC role. I have already got DNS working on
the win2K server as well as switched the clients via DHCP over to it. The
old Win2K domain controller is still running WINS and I have not switched
that over but was thinking I would just do away with WINS and just use DNS
only.

If you needed WINS before you still need WINS. The real questions are
do you need NetBIOS (practically everyone does, for browsing if no other
reason) and do you have more than one Subnet?

If you have more than one Subnet and use NetBIOS features then you need
WINS server(s) and for every machine to be a WINS client, especially DCs.

 

[Paul Bergson [MVP-DS]]

I have an article for you to go over before you decommission

http://www.pbbergs.com
Select articles and click on Decommission a DC


--
Paul Bergson
MVP - Directory Services
MCT, MCSE, MCSA, Security+, BS CSci
2003, 2000 (Early Achiever), NT

http://www.pbbergs.com

Please no e-mails, any questions should be posted in the NewsGroup
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Guest]

Paul -

I can't thank you enough for that article on Decomissioning a DC. It is a
great read and a excellent guide for covering all the questions that needs
answers before you decommision.

Thank you very much,

Chris

 

[Guest]

Herb -

Thank you for your time and much appreciated help. I am going to be
switching over WINS as well before decommisioning. I had just thought that
you could do away with WINS now. Can't DNS handle all of the domains name
resolution needs? Doesn't that make WINS unneeded? I attended a conference
where I thought they were preaching to stop using WINS. Can you expand on
the topic alittle for me? Perhaps my simple mind is missing something and I
really want to understand.

Thanks in advance,

Chris

 

[Herb Martin]

Herb -

Thank you for your time and much appreciated help. I am going to be
switching over WINS as well before decommisioning. I had just thought
that
you could do away with WINS now.

No, probably not. Are you willing to give up browsing? It is a legacy
NetBIOS
application.

Can't DNS handle all of the domains name
resolution needs? Doesn't that make WINS unneeded?

No, besides browsing there are are a half dozen or so minor things that
still
need NetBIOS -- most people need it.

IF you need NetBIOS and you have more than one subnet you need WINS
Server -- and every machine a WINS client.

I attended a conference
where I thought they were preaching to stop using WINS.

Then they were likely ignorant. Not bad for a lone admin but if you paid
money for a "conference" where they don't know their business they ripped
you off.

Can you expand on
the topic alittle for me? Perhaps my simple mind is missing something and
I
really want to understand.

Master Browsers and the Domain Master browser register with WINS (or
broadcast NetBIOS for a single subnet) and never DNS -- there are still
a few places in Exchange, Cluster Services, and maybe SQL were NetBIOS
is needed -- setting up to restrict users to a single (or small set of)
computer(s)
requires NetBIOS.

Legacy clients (NT and 9x) need it but I am assuming you are finished with
those.

 

[Guest]

That really clears up the WINS debate in my mind. Thank you very much for
you time and quick response to my questions.

Thanks,

Chris