Advice on running two servers (one being a backup server)

[eggedd2k]

when i did my mcse i did a load on this but it was ages ago. we've got a win2k server and an exchange 2003 server. we're thinking of replacing the win2k server and getting two new servers and having redundancy/replication on them so that if one server dies the other one takes over.

can this still be done and is it recommended? as our exchange server obviously links in to active directory how will this be affected?

thanks in advance

 

[buddafish]

bring the new servers on line, dcpromo each to make them domain controllers. make one (or both) new servers global catalogs and ad integrated dns.

move the fsmo roles from the original dc to one (or split between)the new servers.

if you are using dhcp, then move this to one of the new servers.

if you need wins, then install this on one of the new servers.

let replication happen.

turn off the old server.

wait a few days and check that all is working well.

boot the old server, run dcpromo, and it will return to a member server.

decomission or rebuild as needed.

exchange should not care as long as you don't remove ad before getting another domain controller running. exchange will need the global catalog available, but should be smart enough to locate this via DNS.

all clients will need to know the new address(es) of DNS servers. dhcp can pass this info with the address lease.

pretty straight forward,

scottie