Install 2000 server in SBS 2003 Domain

[ascotta]

I am upgrading our 2000 domain to 2003 SBS. My plan is to run the adprep on our existing 2000 server. Then install the 2003 SBS server.

This should in theory give me 2 DC's on the domain (artilce 884453 says I can do it.)

My question is now can I then blow away the old server and re-install 2000 server on it, and then dcpromo it to the 2003 domain ?

I want to blow it away to initialise the garbage that has been collected over the past 4 years on it. I will live with it I suppose if I cannot.

Reason is that its going to live on another site.

It would be good if we could afford the next 2003 server licence but we can't now. And we really have to make the jump.

[blue] A perspective from the other side!![/blue]

Cheers
Scott

 

[dtrtel]

You might want to check the requirements on that. I'm
pretty sure you can only have one DC on 2003 SBS and
it has to be it. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

You might do a migration from 2000 to 2003, but the single
DC restriction would still apply and then you'd have the
years of sin accumulated in the 2000 AD.

SBS is low cost because it is crippled in some ways and
gets you entrenched in MS server products so you end up
spending more money when you need more capability,
rather than changing platforms.

--jeff

http://linkedin.com/in/JeffLynch

 

[ascotta]

The article I am looking at is 884453 here
How to instal SBS 2003 into an existing AD.

I have been aware that as long as it is the only SBS server in the domain then you are good. You can have others 2003 or 2000 but not SBS version. It is the re-install of 2000 that I cannot find documentation for.

[blue] A perspective from the other side!![/blue]

Cheers
Scott

 

[58sniper]

You can have a hundred DCs in an SBS environment. Just no trusts, the SBS box has to be the forest root and hold the FSMO roles. No other SBS boxes allowed.

There's a kb article on how to add SBS to an existing domain.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP

 

[ascotta]

Yep, agreed, but can I reinstall a windows 2000 server into a SBS2003 domain as a DC ?


[blue] A perspective from the other side!![/blue]

Cheers
Scott

 

[pagy]

Depends on what the forest and domain functional levels are of the SBS system,I'm not sure what they are by default. If they are at windows 2000 mixed then you could add a windows 2000 server as a DC, but if the levels are at Windows server 2003 you could only add a 2K3 server as an additional DC.

As I said I'm not sure what the default is in SBS, when using standard or enterprise the default level is Windows 2000 mixed.

You can check and/or raise the levels by using AD domains and trusts

Paul
MCSE


"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
Albert Einstein

 

[dtrtel]

58sniper:
Thanks for the correction.

For the big-picture, is it true then that basically the
2000 server is limited to acting like a "BDC" when the SBS
2003 server is unavailable? Able to provide logon
capability and nothing else except for any member
server role(s) the 2000 server is running? I could
see this advantageous for Terminal services given the
change in licensing from 2000 to 2003.

Sorry, not intending to hijack the thread.

--jeff

http://linkedin.com/in/JeffLynch

 

[ascotta]

Yes it appears that the other DC's play like BDC's in the pre AD sense. I am trying to use it as a site DC so that my site doesnt have to climb the greasy VPN to authenticate users. It will also provide file and print at the remote site. All other services will be via VPN to SBS server.

That was the plan anyway. I am at present running the SBS install and I will report success/failure. My adpreps went perfectly on the 2000 DC so, so far so good.

[blue] A perspective from the other side!![/blue]

Cheers
Scott

 

[ascotta]

So I have got SBS as main DC almost, just need to do the Operations Master and PDC etc, but it is global catalogue and has synchronised the sysvol. SO almost there.

Tomorrow I will be doing these last bits and then the rest of SBS install.

The document above is really really good at how to do this stuff. Plus it is going to save me two weekends working, which is nice.

[blue] A perspective from the other side!![/blue]

Cheers
Scott