My company has finally decided to upgrade our WAN to WIN2k or WIN2k3. My
current setup is NT4 at each location and Exchange 5.5. What would be the
best approach in acheiving this upgrade without causing myself a major
headache. Any input would be appreciated.
Basically, do a lot of homework on the Microsoft site. This is not a
straightforward, stick the CD in and follow the prompts, install.
Here's some high lights (where I say 2000 it could be 2003):
- with a Win2k+ domain you get Active Directory. Find out about AD.
- AD means essentially that you MUST have a fully functioning internal
DNS system running Win2K DNS.
- If you upgrade in place the first machine you upgrade MUST be the
PDC.
- If you are getting new hardware for the DCs, install the FIRST DC as
a WinNT BDC in your NT domain, promote it to PDC, then upgrade it to
2000. You now have a Win2000 domain and can add all other new machines
as Win2000 members and upgrade them to DCs ("dcpromo").
- If you don't like the idea of upgrading your PDC, you can create a
totally new structure and Win2000 Domain and migrate everything using
the MS tools.
- backup
- allow plenty of time. It's not a weekend job if you are not familiar
with 2000 and AD. Split it into parts.
- research backout strategies.
- with Ex5.5 you should upgrade to Ex 5.5 SP3 and install the ADC
(Active Directory Connector).
- prepare your backout strategies and did I mention backups?
Cheers,
Cliff
{MVP - Directory Services}
