Anothe question about BDC to PDC promotion

[CWBarton]

I will be installing a BDC (Server1), sync'ing and promoting it to our PDC this weekend. I intend to run the old PDC (server2) as a BDC for at least a week. It will then be replaced with a Win2K member server (with Exchange 5.5 - bridgehead server) - leaving the new PDC (server1) in place.

I have read multiple posts here and there appear to be two schools of thought:

1. Sync the BDC, power off the PDC, then promote the BDC to PDC - power on the old PDC and demote.

or -

2. Sync the BDC, promote it to PDC (without powering off the old PDC) then demoting the PDC.

Which has the least risk - best result?

Also, I'm currently running a WAN with 18 sites - all with their own BDC's - does this raise any "red flags" as far as sync'ing with a new PDC?

Thanks in advance for your help, suggestions, insites and mutterings. ;-)

Craig

IT was just a hobby once . . . what happened?

 

[rdroske]

Synching and then promoting the BDC with the PDC still online is recommended, the other PDC will automatically demote.