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NT4 to SBS2003 migration

Hi,

I currently have a client with an NT4 server (PDC) with no BDC. They have purchased a new server and SBS2003. We need to implement the new server as the domain controller and retire the existing server.

As an additional consideration, they are running Lotus Domino on the NT server. We plan to migrate them to Exchange, but it would probably be best (if possible) to do this once the new server has 'bedded in'.

After researching the answers given on this site, I think the best way to achieve this would be:

1. Install the new server as NT4 BDC
2. Promote this to PDC
3. Upgrade this to Server2003
4. Upgrade again to SBS2003

Do you think that this will work or do you have a better method ?

Will this keep the current domain settings so that the clients will still be joined?

Will SBS2003 work OK with the NT4 box as a member server?

Does anyone know if Lotus Domin will work correctly still (as the NT box is not the DC )?

Thanks in advance for your help

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

plimpias

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jem99

It sounds reasonable except for the last step. I'm not sure that Windows 2003 can be upgraded to SBS2003. SBS is intended to be the one and only domain controller and cannot support being joined to an existing domain so the full migration will probably be the best method.

The NT4 box will work as a member server quite happily on the new domain BUT you wont be able to 'demote' the box and join it to a different domain. NT4 simply doesn't allow this-although I have heard that making some registry changes will do it will most probably wreck the NT4 box.

Lastly Domino doesn't care anything about domain controllers so it will run quite happily on a member server.

jem99

Actually thinking more about it you could just leave the NT box as a PDC for the 'old' domain and Domino will still work ok as Lotus Notes doesn't rely on domain authentication to connect to the domino server.

Paul-Lovett

ASKER

Thanks for your answers.

I've looked at the msoft document describing how to migarate from WNT4 to SBS2003. I'm still not clear whether I end up with a different domain. If I do, will I have to join all my clients to it?. Hopefully this is not the case.

Thanks again

plimpias

Yes you will have a different domain. and no there is no need to do anything to the client computers. accept disable antivirus which can be simply done with a logon script.