Upgrading NT server to 2003

[jakess]

I have to upgrade a site from NT to 2003 with AD.
Can i just simply upgrade the NT PDC by upgrading from Win 2003 cd. Is this supported?

 

[ShackDaddy]

There's a lot to talk about. Best to do some focused reading on your own.

Check out these two links:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...a0-76f0-4e25-8de0-19544062a6e6&displaylang=en

This one is an actual online mini class that will tell you everything you need.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/events/windows2003srv/tnt1-74.mspx

Come back if you have further questions.

ShackDaddy

 

[pagy]

The simple answer is yes you can do an inplace upgrade from NT4 to 2003.
Check out these though;

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/upgrading/nt4/upgradeassistance/default.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/upgrading/nt4/default.mspx

http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/w2k3/w2k3_migratevupgrade.htm

All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.
- Mark Twain

 

[jakess]

I have done NT to Win2000 and then to Win2003 but never NT to 2003.
So i will upgrade the NT PDC to 2003 member server and then dcpromo it to DC or GC.
But is the NT requirements for upgrading to 2003?

 

[ShackDaddy]

The jump from NT to 2003 is quite similar to the jump from NT to 2000. You are moving from the old domain model into Active Directory, so there is some prep to do there. The articles should clarify the details.

I don't think you just upgrade the PDC to a member server role. Does the domain you are moving the NT4 PDC into already exist? If not, then when you upgrade the PDC, it will become the first DC in a new AD. You will not be doing a DCPROMO, since creating the AD will be part of the upgrade. It's just important, as you probably know, to upgrade the PDC before any other DC.

And you don't dcpromo something to be a GC. You enable GC on a server that's already an AD DC.

ShackDaddy

 

[jakess]

Ok thanks.
How can i manage that site from our own AD domain site. How can i connect to their domain and do whatever i need to do on AD.

 

[ShackDaddy]

After you've upgraded the PDC to an AD DC, you can connect with Remote Desktop Client and work on the server remotely. Is that what you were asking?

 

[jakess]

i know about remote desktop but was thinking in the line of managing that site from our AD.
Cant i use AD Site and Services to do that?

 

[ShackDaddy]

If there is a trust set up between the domains, you may be able to open a new MMC console, load it with ActiveDirectory Users and Computers and point it at the remote domain, assuming you've given your account domain admin rights in the other domain.

Are the domains in the same forest or same tree?

ShackDaddy