replacing NT Server with Windows 2000

[leda]

Hi there!
I am the administrator for a small network, (24 users). We are currently using NT 4 as our server, but the machine is so old, and beginning to die... We have purchased a new Server, running Windows 2000 and I am planning to make the switch this weekend.. I am certified in NT, but not 2000. Can anyone give me suggestions for the turn over? For example, to take everyone's usernames and password's from one computer to the other.. There are no policies or anything like that in place...
Also, any general information but the differences between both OS's, (Active directory, etc...) would be much appreciated..
Thanks,
Leda

 

[Diislander]

I'm in the same situation, this article might be helpful

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr.../prodtechnol/ad/windows2000/plan/migntw2k.asp

 

[caddnima]

we are a small company of 25. what we did was just setup a new W2K Server with AD then connect them to our existing network. I then added the users. Doing this, you know that you are starting from fresh install.

Just make sure that all the username and password on the old server is the same on the W2K server. By doing this they can just go back and forth to all files being shared on both servers.

Then we assigned all computers to the new domain/server...

Like I said, we are a small company.

 

[caddnima]

I know that this is the long version but at least it is safe...

Set up the server with AD
add the users manually
make logins/passwords the same

copy all data/files from old server to new server...

I made a batch file that will do this every hour... so it will become a mirror or backup server...

then move one user at a time from old to new...

start with yours first... then if your comfortable move one user at a time...

it is long but safe... at least you dont touch the old server...

 

[skimmilk]

We actually did what you are trying to do last night. The first thing we did to avoid all these issues are remove W2K and reinstall NT 4.0 and make it a BDC. Once this is complete make sure you sync all accounts etc on the new BDC. Next promote it to a PDC. If this is to be the DHCP Server etc...Do all this now and confirm all is working. Then start a W2K upgrade using the Server disk. Since all the Users/ Groups etc are on this machine they will stay there and the entire upgrade took us about 2 hrs. The main issues were DNS which we are still resolving and for some odd reason it did not keep it's assigned IP address which we found and fixed and it has been working great so far Knock on wood). Good Luck!
This is just my opinion.

 

[leda]

I tried setting up AD on the 2000 Server, then the NT Server wouldn't join the same domain... It was off on its own..
But, the 2000 Server won't install AD with the NT Server up and running, because it doesn't recognize it as an AD domain... What's my next step????
I have the 2000 Server logged into the NT domain....
HELP!!!! Leda

 

[wbg34]

When we did this we made the Win2k box a PDC of a different domain. We added the users with the same passwords. We then had the NT box join that domain. We reset the NT share permissions to use the newdomain/groups.

 

[leda]

Thanks for the replies..
We have an external DNS Server.. How is this going to affect the Active Directory installation?
Leda

 

[wbg34]

To use AD you will have to enable DNS on the Win2K server. Just do a basic setup for DNS with you main DNS listed as a forwarder and you should be all set.

 

[GlenJohnson]

Folks, please listen to what Milkey said about removing W2K and installing NT on the new server. I've heard of a great number of people who have done this succesfully. Just make sure you have a good backup of the old machine first.
Glen A. Johnson
Johnson Computer Consulting
MCP W2K
glen@johnsoncomputers.us



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