Adding 2003 SBS server to existing 2000 domain

[sierrapacific]

I'm sure this has been covered, however, I am placing a brand new server that runs 2003 SBS into my existing 2000 domain. I will be upgrading the executive branch users off the exchange 5.5 to exchange 2003 on the SBS. My current configuration is 1 windows 2000 file server (not domain controller), 2 windows 2000 servers, both running exchange 5.5 and both domain controllers. One of those domain controllers house the excecutive branch of usuers that I will be transferring over to the SBS server. From what I've read, all I need to do is run adprep /domainprep and adprep /forestprep on the 2 DCs and then run dcpromo on the SBS server to add it to the domain. Do I have to demote any of the DCs or can I leave them? I know the SBS server must have the FSMO role, etc and global catalog server. Can I use one of the other 2000 DCs as a global catalog server for redundancy?

 

[SkreeM]

You cannot join an SBS 2003 server to an existing domain, you can create other domain controllers in an SBS domain but you acn not join or trust any existing domains. Also with an SBS server you are best off not running dcpromo but allowing the SBS set-up to do it for you as it doesn't like when you don't use the wizards.

You could migrate your entire existing domain and 5.5 to the new SBS domain then remove AD from the 2000 server join them to the new domain but i don't think it will let you have 2000 as a domain controller as the domain is in native mode.

How many users are there in your organisation in total?

Skr

 

[sierrapacific]

There are about 100 users in the organization, however only 20-25 use exchagne services. So what happens to the domain that existing on the 2000 servers if I can't join the SBS 2003 server to it..., or does the 2003 server make a new domain, and then the 2000 servers join the 2003 domain?

 

[markdmac]

You will need to make a new domain for SBS and you can join the 2000 servers to it.

The old Exchange servers will need to have Exchange removed before you can DCPromo them to make them non DCs.

Use Exmerge to export the existing users mail off of the old Exchange servers and then use Exmerge again to import into the new server on SBS.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[LWComputingMVP]

Return SBS. It is not appropriate for your environment. SBS supports a MAXIMUM of 75 users. You have 100 users in the org. Further, you cannot create a second domain without potentially seriously disrupting your environment - SBS cannot form trusts and you would have to split up the organization into 2 domains that could not talk to each other. Return SBS and get the standard products.

 

[markdmac]

Good catch lwcomputing. I only focused on the 25 Exchange users. You are absolutley right that they cannot use SBS.

SierraPacific, if you cannot return SBS then you will want to do the Transition Pack which removes the SBS limitations while preserving the functionality (like RWW).

http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsServer2003/sbs/techinfo/planning/transition.mspx

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[sierrapacific]

Would it just be better to load 2000 server and then buy exchange 2003?

 

[markdmac]

If you run Exchange on 2000 you will not be able to use Outlook over HTTP, plus the server will soon be out of support since Windows 2000 is at end of lifecycle.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[proudusa]

I know this is old but you can join SBS 2003 to an existing domain as per KB 884453

 

[58sniper]

Not if you have 100 users.

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