Windows Server

Jeff · Guest

I am getting ready to do an in place upgrade of an NT4 domain, 1 PDC and 1
BDC. The PDC will be upgraded to 2003 with Active Directory. Two brand new
2003 servers will then be added to the domain and made into DCs. The
original PDC will then be removed from the network.

That leaves my old NT4 BDC. Due to the nature of the data on that server, I
cannot do an in place upgrade and the server has to stay in the domain. But
I would like to make that server a member server in the new 2003 AD domain
and remove the BDC functionality so I can update the 2003 domain
functionality.

Is there any way to cleanly remove the BDC functionality but retain domain
membership. I saw some utilities that basically drop a BDC out of a domain
which can then be added back as a member server. This server has a lot of
directory/file permission settings that I don't want to recreate.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Frances [MSFT] · Guest

Hello Jeff,

Thanks for your post.

Regarding your scenario, I suggest that you transfer the data on the BDC to
other computers using robocopy or xcopy, and then make an in place upgrade
to demote the BDC to member server. You can also make a clean install on
the BDC after the data has been transferred.

You may refer to the articles below to transfer the data with permissions
to another computer.

RoboCopy Syntax
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/WindowsServ/2003/all/techre
f/en-us/Default.asp?url=/Resources/Documentation/windowsserv/2003/all/techre
f/en-us/robocopy_syntax.asp

Xcopy
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/default.asp?url=
/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/xcopy.asp

In order to demote the BDC to member server, you have two choices. The
following words are from Domain Migration Cookbook, which I believe will
help you better understand the situation.

There are currently some limitations on how BDCs can be upgraded. One of
the effects of this is that there is no easy way of upgrading a BDC and
demoting it to a member server unless the PDC has been previously upgraded.
This might be investigated for future versions of Windows 2000.In the
meantime, there are two approaches to upgrading and demoting BDCs:

1.If possible, you should upgrade the PDC of the resource domain to Windows
2000 and run the domain in mixed mode during the transition period. You can
now upgrade each BDC to be demoted.
During each BDC upgrade, the Active Directory Installation wizard will be
launched and you will be given the option of making the BDC a replica in a
Windows 2000 domain, or a member server in the domain. You should select
the latter option, so that the machine is now a member server in the
resource domain.

2.If upgrading the PDC is not possible or desired, for each upgrade you
will need to take the BDC offline and promote it to PDC. Once you have
promoted the BDC to PDC, you can then upgrade to Windows 2000, effectively
making the offline domain controller PDC in a clone Windows 2000 mixed-mode
domain. Once the PDC has been upgraded offline, you can then run the Active
Directory Installation wizard to demote the PDC to a member server and join
it to the target domain.

You may find more information in the following articles.

Domain Migration Cookbook
Chapter 3: Domain Restructure
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/deploy/cookbook
/cookchp3.mspx

Determining Domain Migration Strategies
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/2000/server/reskit/
en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/2000/server/reskit/en
-us/deploy/dgbf_upg_wpkq.asp

In addition, there is a third party tool which can help you to demote the
BDC to member server. You may have a check.

UPromote: Upgrade to a Domain Controller
http://utools.com/UPromote.asp

Note: The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured
by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no
warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of
these products.

Hope it helps. If you have any further questions don't hesitate to get in
touch!

Best regards,

Frances He

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

=====================================================

When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.

=====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

	Windows Server Forum Index -> Migration	All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1