Adding new 2003 Server

[edsa]

Hello all

I have a single 2k server on a curriculum network that is just about had it's day. The school has purchased a brand new 2003 server. I would like to install the new server onto the network and take the old 2k server out of commision.

I would like to leave the current active directory structure in place and generally perform this upgrade with as little disruption as possible. I know that I can add the 2003 as a second DC and replicate AD across. Would this be the best way to go in this case.

It is the first time that I have had to do this so any help would be really appreciated.

ta

Ed

[srochford]

Basically, run adprep /forestprep; adprep /domainprep; run dcpromo.

There's a good article at http://www.petri.co.il/windows_2003_adprep.htm with step by step instructions - that web site has masses of other useful info - well worth checking out.

If you want to remove the old server then make sure you transfer the FSMO roles to the new server first and (most important!) make sure you make the new server a global catalogue server otherwise it won't service logons.

I really would try and keep two domain controllers on your network, though. It's very hard work to recover a domain if the single DC dies. If 1 DC in a multi-DC domain fails then you just wipe, reinstall and dcpromo - nothing is lost.