Upgrade network from NT to 2000

By upgrading the workstations first, you cannot take advantage of the Remote Installation Services found in Win2K Server. However, if you plan on upgrading workstation OSes (vs. clean install), RIS cannot be used (but neither can Sysprep). If thisis the case, it really comes down to a matter of preference. NT workstations will function in a Win2K domain. Win2K workstations will function in an NT4 domain.

Upgrade the servers first so they will be ready for the workstations. In fact, it's best if you can add a new server to be your first W2K domain controller. That way if there is a problem, you can get back to where you started from much easier. After you get a W2K server running, when you upgrade the workstations, you will have the AD structure (dynamic DNS, WINS, DHCP, sites, group policies, Organizational Units) in place to support the workstations, rather than going back and doing that later. You can run in mixed mode for as long as necessary. Don't be in too big a hurry to get to Active Directory and Native Mode.

The key here is upgrading. I like upgrading the servers myself first so you can get familar with the 2000 server environment. The servers are the most important, so you want put alot of effort into getting thier services up in 2000, before you start on the tedious task of upgrading workstations.

I once had a case, where I upgrade the PDC to 2000, and the windows 2000 pro machines got a sense of the upgrade, later on that day I had to kill the 2000 PDC, putting the domain back to NT40. Since the 2000 pro machines felt they were on a 2000 domain, I had to remove them from the domain and add them back to get them to authenticate. My bad luck.

Besides that it really doesn't matter which you do first. I've consulted for many networks that take both paths. What does matter is that the first domaim controller you upgrade is the PDC, and make sure that all your software is compatible, or has an upgrade path as well.

Also, don't upgrade from 98, do a clean install. 98 has a lot of crap that you don't want to see pushed over. For those machines you can use Windows 2000 RIS to push the installations.

2000 uses DNS for resolution, so remember to set your DHCP to give out the 2000 DNS servers IP and your 2000 domain name.

Good Luck.

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