Win2K BDC in a WinNT Domain?

[dlingo]

We currently have a Windows NT Domain that has a PDC, BDC, File Server, Print Server, and SMS Server all running Windows NT 4.0 Server. We want to add a Windows 2000 Server machine as a second BDC. Can this be done? Where may problems occur? Any help will be appreciated.

DJL

 

[FilthPig]

Windows 2000 server can not operate as a BDC in an NT4 domain. Marc Creviere
Network Administrator
Total Logistic Control, LLC

 

[cjr62]

Windows 2000 Server doesn't use a PDC/BDC like NT does. Windows 2000 uses Domain Controllers that replicate Active Directory information to each other. This allows you to make chnages on one Domain Controller and it will replicate to the other.

If you are going to upgrade to Windows 2000, you should upgrade you Domain controllers first. At this point you might consider waiting for Windows 2003.

 

[dlingo]

That's what I thought, but many people around here were thinking it was possible. I just wanted to verify that it wasn't. Thank you for your responses.

 

[dmandell]

You can, however, do it the other way around. If you upgrade your PDC to Windows 2000, all of your existing windows NT BDCs will work with it without any trouble, changes, or upgrades. -Dana

 

[FilthPig]

...Except that every single Windows 2000 Pro and Windows XP Pro client in the domain will authenticate exclusively to the Windows 2000 DC. If you only have one location, and not many PCs, that's not such a big deal. If you have a WAN or more than a few dozen PCs running 2000/XP Pro it will certainly cause trouble, require change, and upgrades.

DNS also has to be running on either a windows 2000 server or a BIND server that supports dynamic updates. Marc Creviere
Network Administrator
Total Logistic Control, LLC

 

[dmandell]

Good, qualification, Marc. (One sometimes tends to think only in the terms of one's own small network -Dana