Nt 4.0 domain upgrade

[pwrrpdc]

I am in the planning stages of upgrading my Nt4.0 domain to Windows 2000. What we have is one domain with a PDC and a BDC, and about 30 desktops running everything from 95 up thru XP pro. My thought on this was;

*Backup bdc to tape
*Upgrade Bdc to 2000 server
*Demote pdc (4.0 server w/ exchange 5.5)
*Promote bdc to pdc
*wait 2 weeks
*upgrade exchange server to 2000 server

My feelings are I dont have the need for Active directory.
Feel free to suggest and shoot holes in my plan..

 

[2D]

I don't know about backing up the BDC to Tape. I think it would be better to install a second hard disk, then use Windows to Mirror them, break the mirror, and then remove the disk from the server. In this scenario I think you have a much better chance of recovering, you could just install the removed disk and boot from it.

 

[Seaspray0]

The method prescribed by microsoft is upgrade the PDC; you can't upgrade a BDC. Promote the one you want to upgrade to PDC status before upgrading.

If you are installing a new Domain Controller computer, first install as a BDC, promote it to a PDC, then upgrade it to 2000. Once you have a 2000 Domain Controller, you can install any additional DC's directly as 2000 DC's.

Do you really need 2000? It does have alot more features, especially in the security. The ability to use organizational units in one domain is worth several NT domains. Keep this in mind: if it wasn't worth it, alot of companies wouldn't have switched already.