NT Domain to Active Directory

[Kiriray]

What's the best way to upgrade our NT system to Active Directory?

Currently, we have a NT Domain Controller, with domain name DomainNT. All our clients/workstations are now Windows XP and it's been that way for about a year now. Now, we need to upgrade the Server to Windows Server 2003, and use AD on a NEW system.
We want all usernames and passwords and user rights and all that goodies transferred to the new server, without having anything to do on the client side. Will using ADMT do the trick? Once we've upgraded to the new server and use the same domain name, will the clients be able to logon to the server with no problem?

Any comments/suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[itsp1965]

Have you tried the MS Active Directory Migration Tool available from the Windows2003 site. It might be what you are looking for

 

[WhoKilledKenny]

If you are doing an in place upgrade, the upgrade will move all of your computer and user accounts into AD for you. They will be located in the Users and Computers Containers when the upgrade is completed and yes users will be able to log on. If you are building a separate AD from your NT Domain the ADMT will move your users and computers, but your domain name will have to be something other than your NT Domain name. You will have to build a trust between the two domains, migrate your users and computers over, and train users on how to log into the new domain.

Good luck...

 

[Kiriray]

Thanks for the replies...

So, if we use ADMT, we need to use a different Domain name, which means, the users will lose their current profiles on the XP workstations since they will have to logon to a different domain... ? Is there an easier way to deal with the users so we won't have to add them to the new domain and they don't lose their current profile?

With the upgrade... i just remembered that their Exchange Server is on the same box. If we upgrade fron NT to 2003, woulnd't it mess up our exchange settings? (We are planning on moving exchange to a separate server).

thanks again.

 

[WhoKilledKenny]

If you do a parallel upgrade you will have to have a different domain name. If you environment is small, say under 2500 users, I would suggest doing an in place upgrade. Much cleaner and eaisier. Move you exchange environment, not recommended to be running on a Domain Controller.
Plan your work and work the plan. Plenty of information on the Microsoft site to help you make the right decision for your environment.

 

[AndrewTait]

I presume that you are running Exchange 5.5 or below on the NT server. Therefore when you upgrade to 2003, exchange will stop working. You will have to move Exchange onto a different server prior to upgrading. This can either be Exchange 5.5 or below on NT or 2003 on Win2003 server.

Additionally, if you are looking at a parallel install of 2003 and AD, then look at Aetilla (sp?) Domain Migrator. It allows you to migrate your clients and users, whilst keeping all their access rights, desktops, profiles etc. Too complicated to go into here, but a very powerful and usefull tool.

The others above are correct, in that by doing a parallel install, you will not be able to use the same name as your NT name.

He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy (Monty Python's The Life of Brian)

 

[Kiriray]

thank you all for the tips!

 

[outonalimb]

A nice link which tells you 'most' things you need to know about upgrading:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...A0-76F0-4E25-8DE0-19544062A6E6&displaylang=en