Adding Win2K PDC to NT 4.0 domain

[ljzman]

I am currently implementing a Windows 2K server into our NT 4.0 domain, and since this will provide an opportunity to begin upgrading the domain, I will be doing the following:

I have installed NT4.0 as a BDC on the new server
I will promote the new BDC to a PDC
I will upgrade the new PDC to Win2K Server, as a mixed mode PDC.
The old server will be eventually taken off-line and scrapped.

Question #1: Will logon scripts still operate properly while having a win2K PDC and NT 4.0 BDC's? we cannot upgrade the BDC to win2K because right now it is running applications that require 4.0.

Question #2: We are a casino boat. in NT 4.0, we disconnect the boat to cruise, and the NT 4.0 BDC authenticates our Win2k clients with the absence of the PDC located on land. Since the PDC will no longer be NT 4.0, will there be any change?

Question #3: Has anyone ran into any snags running in mixed mode, with win2K PDC and NT BDC's?

Thanks


Lance Johnson
IT Manager
Lakeside Casino Resort
Osceola, Iowa

 

[FilthPig]

Well, before these are answered I should mention that Win2k Pro will only authenticate to a Windows 2000 DC once it sees that Active Directory is around. That said - here's my suggestion:

Add another new server to act as a 2000 DC to put on the boat alongside your NT 4.0 BDC. It doesn't have to be extremely powerful - all you need it for is authentication and DNS.

So that takes care of #1 and #2 since the 2000 server will be doing the authentication.

#3 - If you're not prepared and well-read on the upgrade process, active directory, and DNS, you'll hit a lot of snags. A good primer is the following white paper from Microsoft:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr.../prodtechnol/ad/windows2000/plan/migntw2k.asp

Marc Creviere

 

[ljzman]

That looks like the route to go. The old production server can be upgraded after we move everyone off of it, and place it with the BDC.

Thanks for the article. It was helpful, too.

Lance Johnson
IT Manager
Lakeside Casino Resort
Osceola, Iowa