From NT to 2000 - so complicated? 1

[chronicles]

Hi everybody,

I've here a NT server: about 300 users using it under a domain, each one whith your home folder. This server stores important files and keeps especific shares, including network printers. I need to upgrade it to a Windows 2k, in a different machine too. How can I migrate It, keeping the configurations and profiles?


Thank you very much!

 

[zephyran]

Just to make sure we understand correctly, is this your network setup:

-One Windows NT 4 domain controller (PDC)
-300 users
-You want to upgrade to a Windows 2000 domain, using a different server as domain controller

If you want to migrate to a new server, you can do it eiter before or after upgrading to Windows 2000. We're doing something similar, and here is our plan:

1. Replace all the old domain controller/file servers with new servers running Windows NT
-add the new servers as BDCs
-migrate files, services and printers to the new servers
-promote one of the new servers to PDC
-Decomission the old servers

2. Upgrade the domain controllers (starting with the PDC) to Windows 2000
-The new servers will make for an easier and more stable upgrade
-All domain security, files, shares, and printers will be preserved

The only change from our plan to your system is that you only have one server. However, if you don't have to get rid of the old server and it's capable of running Windows 2000, I'd recommend you keep it operational first as a BDC, and then upgrade it to Win2K after upgrading the new server (PDC). It's always a good idea to have more than one domain controller.