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Migration to Windows Server 2003

We are a small organization and our current Network Scenario is as follows:

- Currently, our Primary Domain Controller has Windows NT
- Currently, our Backup Domain Controller has Windows NT
- All other Servers (File Server, Print Server, Web Servers) have Windows 2000
- We have purchased New Windows 2003 Servers (enterprise edition) which would act as our new domain controllers.
- All workstations use only static IP addresses. We do not have a DHCP server

We are planning to migrate everything to Windows Server 2003. My questions are these:

1. How should we proceed on doing this?
2. What is preferable: Using ADMT (Active Directory Migration Tool) or doing an in-place upgrade?
3. What are the potential problems that we could face?

I appreciate your response.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

oBdA

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oBdA

Maybe of interest, too:
Migrating Windows NT Server 4.0 Domains to Windows Server 2003 Active Directory
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/whyupgrade/nt4/nt4domtoad.mspx

mauneel

ASKER

Amazing answer buddy. Thanks much. I really appreciate it. But, I have some questions:

You are asking me to install NT4 on the new domain controller that we bought. It's a Dell PowerEdge 2650. I have my doubts regarding this. I am not sure if it will even take in NT 4. It already has Windows 2003 Enterprise on it. I am skeptical about driver compatibility.

Also, if I accept your answer (which I obviously want to do), will I still be able to post my questions to you?

Thanks again.

mauneel

ASKER

Also, I have a Dell 170l Optiplex with no OS on it. Should I install NT4 on it and use it as a test domain controller just like you suggsted?

Thanks.

mauneel

ASKER

Hey buddy, I have already awarded you the points. Please do respond to m questions though. If you want, I can open-up another question addressed to you.

Thanks.

oBdA

For a test machine, you can basically use whatever machine fits the needs of Server 2003.
As for the drivers, Dell has a pretty well sorted driver site. If your NT4 DC's hardware supports W2k3, you can of course (if necessary promote and) upgrade one of those as well, then join your Dell to the domain and dcpromo it. You could then transfer the FSMO roles to your new machine and depromote the former NT4 machine. (Never ever just remove a DC in an AD domain; always demote it first!) Depending on your experience with AD, you might want to try all of this in a test setup before running it for real.
If you don't have hardware that supports NT4 as well as W2k3, you'll need to use the ADMT.

How To View and Transfer FSMO Roles in Windows Server 2003
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=324801

How To Use the Dcpromo.exe Tool to Remove Active Directory in Windows Server 2003
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=816108

mauneel

ASKER

I just came to know that one of our colleagues has just misplaced/lost the only Windows NT 4 CD that we had. Is there a way we can buy an NT 4 CD from somewhere? Since MS has stopped supporting NT, I was wondering whether anyone would be selling NT 4 anymore :(

oBdA

If you're subscribed to the MSDN, you're still able to download an ISO image from Microsoft. Otherwise, the easiest possibility is probably to look at ebay or wherever.

mauneel

ASKER

Thanks for your help. I have another question. But, I am going to post it as a new question. So, please try responding to that. By the way, we did find the CD.

Thanks.