NT4, Exch 5.5 to Win2000, Exch2000, Domain name change, how to?

[daveindarwin]

We have a standalone NT4 Server machine, running Exchange 5.5 with a Domain of Blah_BLAH. There are 4 other NT4 boxes running as a PDC and 3 BDC's.

We want to go to a Native Mode 2000 AD Domain (there are 10 other member server 2000 boxes in the Domain)

Problems are, we have to change the domain name to Blah-BLAH, to have a 2000 native AD, while having the Maximum uptime for email, upgrading to Win2000 and Exchange2000.

We are a 24 hour opeartion.

We have three "spare" servers that we can use for helping with the migration.

Has anyone done this before and have a maximum uptime solution?

 

[Marcs41]

If you use the 'normal' migration process, see faq858-3483 , your downtime should be no longer then 15-30 minutes max. , depending on the power of the servers.
The losing time part only shows after the install is done, during the migration and transfer of mailboxes etc. You will probably need to redirect your port 25 to the new server, but I would disable mail coming in during the transfer part, or you may miss parts.
The servers, when switched, will collect mail as before, the only time you could loose is to reconfigure the clients, if there are many.

Marc
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[daveindarwin]

Thank you for your prompt reply.
I'll have alot of reading over the weekend!!
Thanks Again!

 

[Marcs41]

No problem, good luck.