Windows Server

Jim Walsh · Guest

I have a NT 4.0 PDC and will be migrating to AD on Windows 2003. With the
migration tool a hybrid environment would be created. After all is well I
would like to take the PDC offline and convert AD from hybrid to 2003. Can I
just make the NT 4.0 machine go away like that? Cannot find any reference
anywhere saying this is acceptable or not. The NT 4.0 machine cannot be
upgraded to Windows 2003. Thank you.

Ada Pan [MSFT] · Guest

Hello Jim,

If the NT 4.0 machine cannot be upgraded to Windows 2003, you can first
install Windows NT Server 4.0 on a new machine, make it as a BDC, promote
it to a PDC, and then upgrade the Windows NT 4.0-based primary domain
controller (PDC) to a Windows Server 2003-based domain controller.

1. Install Windows NT Server 4.0 on a new machine which meets the
requirements of Windows 2003. During the installation, specify the options
to make the new computer a backup domain controller.
2. In Server Manager, promote the backup domain controller to a PDC.
3. Make sure that there are no errors in the event logs and that SAM
replication is completing successfully.
4. Synchronize all the backup domain controllers in the domain so that they
are completely up-to-date. Consider taking one of the backup domain
controllers offline to preserve a replica of the Security Accounts Manager
(SAM).
5. Insert the Windows Server 2003 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive on the PDC.
The Windows Server 2003 Installation Wizard starts.
6. Click Install Windows Server 2003.
7. When the wizard prompts you to either upgrade or create a new
installation, click Upgrade, and then click Next.
8. Accept the license agreement, and then click Next.
9. Type the product installation key, and then click Next.
10. After Setup copies system files and restarts, the rest of the upgrade
process runs automatically.
11. After the upgrade is complete, the server restarts, and then the Active
Directory Installation Wizard starts automatically. In the wizard, specify
the appropriate Active Directory options.

For the documentation about the upgrade, please refer to the following
articles:

326209 How To Upgrade a Windows NT 4.0-Based PDC to a Windows Server
2003-Based
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=326209

White Paper: Migrating Windows NT Server 4.0 Domains to Windows Server 2003
Active Directory
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;818623

Tools and Documentation for Upgrading to Windows Server 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/upgrading/nt4/tooldocs/default.ms
px

Hope it helps.

Regards,

Ada Pan

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
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Jim Walsh · Guest

I think my question was a bit unclear. I would like to install Windows 2003
and AD on a new machine and run ADMT V3 to do the migration. ADMT V3 turns
off the user IDs in the NT 4.0 domain after a period of time. 30 days is the
default. This way I can simply "import" my groups and users into a Windows
2003 forest and domain. After a successful migration can I just shut down the
NT 4.0 box with no ill effects on AD? Thank you.

"Ada Pan [MSFT]" wrote:

[quote]Hello Jim,

If the NT 4.0 machine cannot be upgraded to Windows 2003, you can first
install Windows NT Server 4.0 on a new machine, make it as a BDC, promote
it to a PDC, and then upgrade the Windows NT 4.0-based primary domain
controller (PDC) to a Windows Server 2003-based domain controller.

1. Install Windows NT Server 4.0 on a new machine which meets the
requirements of Windows 2003. During the installation, specify the options
to make the new computer a backup domain controller.
2. In Server Manager, promote the backup domain controller to a PDC.
3. Make sure that there are no errors in the event logs and that SAM
replication is completing successfully.
4. Synchronize all the backup domain controllers in the domain so that they
are completely up-to-date. Consider taking one of the backup domain
controllers offline to preserve a replica of the Security Accounts Manager
(SAM).
5. Insert the Windows Server 2003 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive on the PDC.
The Windows Server 2003 Installation Wizard starts.
6. Click Install Windows Server 2003.
7. When the wizard prompts you to either upgrade or create a new
installation, click Upgrade, and then click Next.
8. Accept the license agreement, and then click Next.
9. Type the product installation key, and then click Next.
10. After Setup copies system files and restarts, the rest of the upgrade
process runs automatically.
11. After the upgrade is complete, the server restarts, and then the Active
Directory Installation Wizard starts automatically. In the wizard, specify
the appropriate Active Directory options.

For the documentation about the upgrade, please refer to the following
articles:

326209 How To Upgrade a Windows NT 4.0-Based PDC to a Windows Server
2003-Based
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=326209

White Paper: Migrating Windows NT Server 4.0 Domains to Windows Server 2003
Active Directory
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;818623

Tools and Documentation for Upgrading to Windows Server 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/upgrading/nt4/tooldocs/default.ms
px

Hope it helps.

Regards,

Ada Pan

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.

[/quote]

Ada Pan [MSFT] · Guest

Hi Jim,

I wonder if you are referring to hte SIDhistory. Generally, we will keep
SIDHistory for a few days. After you use ADMT to migrate the objects to
the new domain and run AD for a while to make sure there is no problem, you
can then just turn off NT machine.

Hope it helps.

Regards,

Ada Pan

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.

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