Here's some information:
1) Windows NT 4.0 domains use one PDC (Primary domain controller) and multiple BDC's(backup domain controllers) to authenticate users to the network. They hold a database of user names and passwords to grant access to users on the network. Your client is asking you to replace on of his/her BDC's with a Windows 2000 server. The problem is, it is not possible to do this without first migrating the PDC to Windows 2000 first (It can't be done any other way..the PDC must become a Windows 2000 server first.)
I suggest that you ask your client if the PDC is running on a Windows 2000 server.
Your client would have to migrate the PDC to Windows 2000 first. If the PDC is not Windows 2000, you can still migrate the data from his BDC to Windows 2000; however, the new server will not act as a domain controller (it won't be able to authenticate uses.)
2) If the PDC is already running Windows 2000 (in Mixed mode), you can convert this BDC. What you could do, is build the new server as a Windows NT BDC in the same domain. Then, synchronise the domain. Then use a Windows 2000 server CD to upgrade the server to Windows 2000. After the upgrade is complete, the new server will be Windows 2000. The last step is to move the data from the old server to the new windows 2000 server. You could use the resource kit util CACLS or XCACLS to do this and preserve permissions.
3) Migrating servers is a complicated procedure. It sounds like you have very limited knowledge of NT and 2000. I would tell the client that you do not have the skills to perform this work. Migrating a Windows NT 4.0 domain to 2000 is complicated. However, if you want to procede, "we" will try to give you as much support as possible.
-hope this helps. Joseph L. Poandl
MCSE 2000
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