Windows 2000 as "failover" for windows 2003 SBS Active Directory servi

[realized]

I currently have an office with a windows 2000 SBS machine and windows 2000 standard as a "member server" but not doing anything on the network - hosts custom SQL application...

I am about to replace the windows 2000 SBS machine with windows 2003 SBS (R1).

mind you, i am not using any SBS options , not using Exchange, VPN, SQL, etc.

Once i replace the domain controler with windows 2003 SBS, can i add the windows 2000 machine as a domain controler and have it take over some rolls of the 2003 machine for failover.

For example, i know all FSMO roles must be held by the windows 2003 server... BUT

can i have the window 2000 server act as a secondary DNS server, DHCP server, wins, etc..

Then lets say DNS went down, and i wasn't around to reboot the service or troubleshot it - the clients would still have the windows 2000 machine.

but i would like everything to operate over active directory, for it to replicate to one another.

 

[markdmac]

Yes you can do that. You will need to get the SBS 2003 setup first then add the 2K server as a member and promote it to a DC. You will need to add a registry key to disable the SBS box from shutting down DHCP if it detects another DHCP server.

You can do that with the following script I wrote:

[green]
'==========================================================================
'
' NAME: SBSDisableDHCPRogueDetection.vbs
'
' AUTHOR:  Mark D. MacLachlan, The Spider's Parlor 
' COPYRIGHT: (c) 2008 All Rights Reserved
' DATE  : 1/18/2008
'
'    THIS CODE AND INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF
'    ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
'    THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR FITNESS FOR A
'    PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
'
'    IN NO EVENT SHALL THE SPIDER'S PARLOR AND/OR ITS RESPECTIVE SUPPLIERS 
'    BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY
'    DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS,
'    WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS
'    ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE
'    OF THIS CODE OR INFORMATION.
'
' COMMENT: Disables DHCP Server Detection in SBS that causes DHCP to shut down.
'
'==========================================================================
[/green]
on error resume next

Dim path

Set WSHShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

 
path = "HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dhcpserver\Parameters\"
WSHShell.RegWrite path & "DisableRogueDetection",1,"REG_DWORD"
WshShell.AppActivate "Program Manager"
WshShell.SendKeys "{F5}"
If Err then
	msgbox "Error Encountered" & Err.Description
Else
	msgbox "SBS Rogue DHCP Detection Set Sucessfully"
End if

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

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