NT4.0 server to Windows 2003

[salara]

Currently we have an old NT4.0 PDC, no BDC and Exchange 5.5.

Recently we joined with other company, which have Windows 2003 PDC Server and Exchange 2003.

My question is:
Can we replace, demote and assign the 2003 machine to the NT domain?
Move user accounts from NT to 2003, and then remove the NT.4 PDC from network? Assign Exchange 2003 to the NT.4 domain, and then move user’s accounts, mail boxes, public folder from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2003?

We would like to use the old NT.4 domain and old Exchange names. We simply want to retain the domain, but replace the PDC with a 2003 server.

Regards to all,

Salara

[Siliconjunkie]

Yes, you can and your plan is sound. Search MS for details on upgrading and NT4 domain to AD.

Note: AD domains do not have "PDC" and "BDC" as NT4 did. They do have a DC in this role if running in compatability mode to allow NT4 DCs. There are also "roles" they have, FSMO, RID, Operations Master, Schema Master and Global Catalog. GC is not really a "role" like the others.

Like I said, MS has tons of docs on doing this.

[salara]

Hi Siliconjunkie

Thans for you sound response.

Salara

[MTAtech]

Do you plan to UG the NT box to 2003?

[salara]

Yes I do?

[jmichna]

NT4.0 Server cannot be demoted from primary domain controller without a special utility (believe me... I just went through this exercise when we added a stand-alone NT4 Server box -- it was in its own domain -- to an existing domain, it assumed the role of primary domain controller).

You will need to get (buy) UPromote:
Single license ($99.95)
http://utools.com/UPromote.asp
http://utools.com/product.asp?dept%5...0&pf%5Fid=2001

Frankly, you may just want to wipe NT4 and start fresh rather than upgrade (that's what we eventually did... for a variety of reasons).

[Siliconjunkie]

There is no need to demote it. Just make sure that the 2003 box has all the roles and remove it from the domain.

Like I said, read the MS papers on it, they have put out a ton of them on doing just this.

[jmichna]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siliconjunkie

There is no need to demote it. Just make sure that the 2003 box has all the roles and remove it from the domain.

Like I said, read the MS papers on it, they have put out a ton of them on doing just this.

Silicon...
Help me learn here... my old NT4 box was originally a standalone webserver in its own domain. I didn't personally configure the box. It was set up as a PDC -- whatever the reason -- for its little "Tech" domain. Are you saying that I could have had it join another domain, and not be a PDC when it entered that new domain? If you have some refs I would deeply appreciate reading them.
Thanks,
jmichna

[M_Six]

We're doing almost the exact same thing as salara, except our PDC is also our file server. I have a new 2003 machine that will be the new file server, but there are literally thousands of folders and hundreds of shares. Is there any way to transfer all the files and still retain share and permission info? Or do I have to re-share everything and reset all the permissions?

[salara]

Hi, All

Currently we have two possibility options to join Windows 2003 Server and Exchange 2003 box to our current NT.4 domain, I hope it’s useful for all.
We can just "assign" the Exchange 2003 box to an NT.4 domain, but in spite of the fact that Exchange 2003 uses Active Directory (thus the need to upgrade the NT.4 domain is first).

First option:
We can build another NT.4 Server box, set it up as a BDC. Once complete, remove it from GL-TRADE Network and promote it to the PDC. Reboot, afterwards upgrade to Windows 2003 and AD.

First Option steps
1- Build NT.4 BDC Server.
2- Remove the NT.4 PDC Server from network.
3- Promote NT.4 BDC Server to NT.4 PDC Server.
4- Upgrade to Windows 2003 and AD.
5- Set the WINS and DNS on the server.
6- Use the Active Directory Connector (ADC) to replicate the Exchange Server 5.5 mailboxes to Active Directory.
7- Assign the Exchange 2003 box to the Windows 2003 Domain as the server that is running Exchange Server 5.5.
8- Use the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in to move the mailbox from the server that is running Exchange Server 5.5 to the server that is running Exchange 2003.
9- Remove Exchange 5.5 box from Network.
10- Assign the windows 2003 box to the Windows 2003 Domain.

Second option:
We can create a trust between the 2 domains, Use a migration tool to migrate the 5.5 users over to 2003, then do the domain rename.

Second Option steps
1- Set the WINS and DNS on both servers.
2- Create a trust between the NT.4 PDC Server and Windows 2003 Domain.
3- Use the Active Directory Connector (ADC) to replicate the Exchange Server 5.5 mailboxes to Active Directory.
4- Use the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in to move the mailbox from the server that is running Exchange Server 5.5 to the server that is running Exchange 2003.
5- Remove Exchange 5.5 box from Network.
6- Remove NT.4 PDC Server from Network.
7- Rename Windows 2003 Domain to takeover the role of the NT.4 PDC Server.
8- Reassign the Exchange 2003 box to Windows 2003 Domain new name.

We have also the exact same thing as M Six has; there are literally thousands of folders and hundreds of shares.
My question also, is there any way to transfer all the files and still retain share and permission info? Or do I have to re-share everything and reset all the permissions?

Thanks
salara