Windows NT 4 domain to AD

[Will Kubly]

Hi

I am starting to look into converting or migrating a Windows NT domain
to a Windows 2003 SP1 AD and had a few questions.

It looks like to preserve our current domain setup I can upgrade the NT
domain controller to Windows 2003 to get our first AD controller on.
However this is a 5 year old box that I have replaced with a new box. I
only want to convert it so I can then bring up another AD from our new
2003 servers and then shut this old box down.
1. Can I use a Windows 2003 CD from one of my new Dell server to upgrade
this box and then once I have transfered the roles etc to another
licensed server drop it? Or will using the software CD from another
server cause an issue?
2. I am not sure what DNS to use on this box. When I deal with new AD
domains the DNS is often company.local. However as this is an NT domain
its Company_bender which does not strick me as a DNS name I can use.
Internally my DNS is company.local.

Or I could migrate the NT domain over to one of the 2003 boxes. The
tools and documentation look good. It about 80 IDs and 60 PCs with about
20 PCs setup across a Site to Site 786 VPN.

It just seems to me that converting is easier except for the software
and DNS issues that I am unsure about. Or is it easier to migrate?

Thanks

Will

 

[Enkidu]

Hi

I am starting to look into converting or migrating a Windows NT
domain to a Windows 2003 SP1 AD and had a few questions.

It looks like to preserve our current domain setup I can upgrade the
NT domain controller to Windows 2003 to get our first AD controller
on. However this is a 5 year old box that I have replaced with a new
box. I only want to convert it so I can then bring up another AD from
our new 2003 servers and then shut this old box down.

That will work, but it might be an idea to install NT4 on a *new* box
and then upgrade that one. The advantage of your way is that you can
just demote the server and that is all, but if you do it the other way
you will have to manually remove references to the old NT4 box.

1. Can I use a Windows 2003 CD from one of my new Dell server to
upgrade this box and then once I have transfered the roles etc to
another licensed server drop it? Or will using the software CD from
another server cause an issue?

If you install NT4 on a server then upgrade it to 2003 that is permitted
by the (new) 2003 license I believe. It's debatable whether or not a CD
from another *brand* of server will work on a server, because the
software may be modified by the vendor.

2. I am not sure what DNS to use on this box. When I deal with new AD
domains the DNS is often company.local. However as this is an NT
domain its Company_bender which does not strick me as a DNS name I
can use. Internally my DNS is company.local.

The old NT Domain name is a NetBIOS name and will remain. You can call
your new AD Domain 'company.local' if you wish, I believe.

Or I could migrate the NT domain over to one of the 2003 boxes. The
tools and documentation look good. It about 80 IDs and 60 PCs with
about 20 PCs setup across a Site to Site 786 VPN.

I'd research both methods and see which suits your situation best. This
is something that can't be decided without a great deal of information
about your setup.

It just seems to me that converting is easier except for the software
and DNS issues that I am unsure about. Or is it easier to migrate?

Your call! I've done it both ways (a long time ago!). It depends a lot
on what your setup is. People can advise you on technical points, but
ultimately it is your decision.

Cheers,

Cliff

 

[Kurt]

There are pros and cons to each. If your old NT4 DC is "ghostable", I'd do
that first. If not, do backups to the point that you can re-install and
restore if all else fails. Hopefully, this is a DC-only or/DC-fileserver and
not an application or exchange server. If you can, you could also bring up
an NT4 BDC as an off-line backup box. I'll tell you, as most will, that
upgrading the DC as the starting point for your new AD domain is the
easiest. Then, as you say, bring up a new DC from scratch, transfer the
roles and demote the old one. I'd download the 180 day eval from MS for the
upgrade or borrow a CD from someone else to make sure it hasn't been
modofied by Dell. Migration from a live NT4 domain to a new AD is a lot
tougher, and more prone to failure IMHO. But the advantage is that if it
fails, your Old PDC is still around. Anyway, good luck and spend some time
researching all of the pros and cons of each method as they relate to your
particular business needs.

....kurt