Upgrade from NT 4.0 Domain

[C M]

I have a Windows NT 4.0 Primary Domain Controller, i want to migrate to Windows 2000 Adv Server & Active Directory.

When in NT i am planning to insert my Windows 2000 CD & perform a standard upgrade.

How do i set-up/configure Active Directory? do i do this is Configure My Server? will it keep all my user account's??

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanx.

[TropicalBound]

Switching to Win2K Active Directory and utilizing it is a complete change of pace from an NT Domain. I would suggest you read up on it with some good technical manuals before just diving right in.

[tiger1vic]

I agree with the previous post. Do your homework first, but here's some tips. Add another NT machine and make it a BDC. Synchronize it with the PDC (may take about 15 minutes or so) and then take it OFF the network as a backup. Run the Win2k upgrade process, installing it as a new domain controller in a new forest, and your user accounts etc. will be intact. The Win2K server has to stay in mixed mode if planning on retaining any NT domain controllers in the same network. Once you switch it to native mode, only Win2k servers can do authentication and it's a one-way process (no going back without reinstall or removal of AD)

[24jedi]

I agree with tiger1vic.

Setup a test server first. As mentioned, create a BDC. Take it off line, then promote to PDC.

Then from the offline PDC, run the upgrade.
Once the offline PDC has been upgraded to Win2000, run DCpromo.exe. This will install configure AD. You will also have to setup DNS services.

Considerable thought must be planned as far as forrest and trees are concerned...with respect to your existing domain.

A good book to read regarding this procedure is MSpress Windows server 2000 70-215



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