BDC promote to PDC

[mwcart]

I'm upgrading an NT4 domain to win2003. The plan is to install a new BDC into the domain and promote it to a PDC and then upgrade.

Two questions about promoting the BDC.

1. Will the current PDC automatically be demoted to a BDC when the promotion takes place?

2. What would happen if the PDC where taken offline without being demoted and then brought back on line after the new PDC(promoted BDC) has been upgraded? Would it automatically be demoted to a BDC then? Problems?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

 

[lesleyva]

Hi

the answer to your first question is yes.

For your second question, this is what I think:
When the old PDC comes on line again, it will be a BDC. You will have to promote it manually to PDC.

Good luck

Lesley

 

[TechLad]

I wouldn't recommend reconnecting that PDC to the network after you have promoted another when it is offline, both will try and be the PDC - albeit at different domain levels (NT4 v 2003) and you certainly don't want that!

The approach should be...

Make a BDC - take this offline as your backup
Perform the upgrade on the existing PDC (assuming this is what you want)
If all goes well then ok, if not then disconnect the PDC, reconnect the backup BDC and promote this

Obviously this assume dedicated machines for PDC/BDC and tha the hardware on the current PDC is up to scratch

Cheers, Jeff.