2000 to 2003 upgrade, best practice

[CRAIG2432]

Hello.

I am shortly going to replace our 2000 servers with a new dell server running 2003. The existing server is our DC with about 200 users on it. Primary role is a file server.
My question is where on earth do I start. There has got to be a process to move / migrate the users and all the security policys that are on the old DC.
Also when the new server is insatlled, if I keeps the domain name the same will the clients PC's connect straight back onto the new server or will they complain about a security issue. (I had a simalar issue some time ago when a server went down with a hardware fault and we had to start from scratch. The event log on the server kept telling me there was a trust issue? I think)

Any pointers would be great.

Thanks

 

[pagy]

Have a look at this thread -

http://tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1331424&page=5

Paul

MCSE 2003

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
Albert Einstein

 

[LWComputingMVP]

CRAIG2432,

Pagy has posted a link to a question where I provided links to a variety of tips, how-tos, and recommendations.

I want to ask though, don't you have more than one Domain Controller? With a network as large as yours, there should be at least two DCs to protect against failures and prevent problems you apparently experienced in the past.

 

[CRAIG2432]

thanks for the link, its just what I needed. As for a second dc. We are going to use the old dc as a backup dc.It copes at the moment at 70% constant load not ideal but we just cannot afford 2 new servers, that's unless anyone can realy say not to use the old server.

Thanks again

 

[LWComputingMVP]

A 2000 server is probably old... but there's no reason you should have a load of 70% on it if it's just a DC and file sharing server. I had triple that many users on a 500 MHz P3 and it was fine. Have you ever looked in to what is using the CPU? How much RAM it has?

Otherwise, by all means, keep the existing 2K server as a second DC.

 

[CRAIG2432]

Its a friends company I have agreed to look after, (under preasure) The person how looks after there system at the moment knows very little, but he did say there was an issue with xp machines and roaming profiles.
As for RAM it has 1 GIG
I will be visiting the site on Monday to have a poke around and see what is what.

 

[LWComputingMVP]

I would ask you to clarify roaming profiles. Strictly speaking, I would avoid them. I would use folder redirection instead. Actually, what I usually do is use roaming profiles but with virtually every profile folder excluded (redirected instead where applicable), essentially creating roaming registries.

 

[58sniper]

roaming profiles = evil

Echoing what lwcomputing said, folder redirection works wonders.

RAM is like money - you can never have too much.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[LWComputingMVP]

I like that... I don't know how much I truly agree with it... (It certainly doesn't hurt, that's for sure), but I still like it:

RAM is like money - you can never have too much

Pat, You going to be in Seattle in March?

 

[58sniper]

Pat, You going to be in Seattle in March?

Yep. Arriving the Saturday before, and leaving the Saturday after. Plenty of time for hijinks and stuff!

Assuming, of course, and I don't get plastered with some last minute DST issues and have to stay home. But I should be good to go.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[CRAIG2432]

Sorry gent one more thing.

What do I do about the 200 cals. when the new server is the main DC do I just copy the licences over? Can it be that simple.

 

[LWComputingMVP]

You'll need to upgrade the CALs as 2000 CALs are not acceptable to 2003.

@58sniper - perhaps we'll run into each other - kinda looking forward to putting a few faces to the names on this and the other site I participate on.

 

[CRAIG2432]

AAAHHH poo.

Oh well we cannot have everything for free.

Thanks