Solo Technology

What a weekend at the “days, nights and weekends” job. Partner and I did something we’ve been dreading for several years: Migrate a very well entrenched Windows NT4 based domain network to Windows 2x Active Directory. Not only that, but we met the goal of zero disruption as we managed to do it without losing the domain ID — no user impact at all. Scary stuff, but we pulled it off.

[No, I don't want to hear why microsoft domains are evil. No, I don't want to hear about better ways of doing things. We're small and we're not exactly over-capitalized and we live on pre-existing licenses. So shoosh. ]

Short version is that we built a new NT4 server as a backup domain controller. We named him “Phoenix” (from the ashes…). We then promoted him to Primary Domain Controller. Forced a resynch and then yanked his network cable. Tossed in the Win2k Server CD and ran the upgrade. (decent doc from MS) Scary stuff, but in general, it all seemed to work and we didn’t bork our users (losing that domain ID is a mighty p.i.t.a. and I’m so glad we didn’t)

Now we have a new AD controller — granted, it is running on spare parts (dual PII 400?!?). Well, the genesis of this project was the purchase of two “big boy” rack mount servers that will pretty much replace all of our dinosaurs. So, one of them gets lobbed into the domain and gains that all important “Domain Controller” title too — oh yeah, we built and configured them this weekend too. We also migrated DHCP, DNS and just for grins, WINS to that bad boy and we’re living large. Some interesting snags with DNS along the way, but we got ‘em sorted.

Powered off the one we migrated first (Phoenix) and learned an important lesson about “FSMOs”. But hey, we’re getting the hang of it.

There, that sums up about 20 hours this weekend (honest, that is the short version!). Wheee…. This all after I had just negotiated a 4 day weekend to a bit of a break. Doh. 2 of those days gone right there and I spent the first half of today in the office as well making sure that folks were functional as they wandered in. See what happens when you proclaim yourself “Ops Manager” of a small startup? You wear lots of hats!

(…and no regrets…)

One Response to “Windows AD migration”

1. Matt Wilson on February 27th, 2006 9:33 pm
   

   I am wanting to do the same thing with a Windows 2000 server - upgrade to 2003. But I am deathly afraid of backing up and restoring AD. I might just do it manually and recreate the AD on the new server. I am also thinking of using Exmerge to backup Exchange mailboxes. Scary stuff!

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