Do your research
Once the stage is set, the next step in your deployment planning is more research, this time about the migration's details. To make it all happen, you'll also need up-to-date and detailed information about your existing network infrastructure.
Gather and start studying the technical documents from the .NET Server Web site. Also, be sure to check out the indispensable deployment guide (although it is still incomplete at the time of this writing). The Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit will also be a great help in the planning and research phases.
Learn about the different methods of automating and customising installations (disk imaging techniques; remote installation service; network installation points). Choosing the right one for your setup and circumstances can speed the process up considerably. Microsoft's Deployment Guide includes a section on the topic, including compatibility testing, design information for unattended installations, image-based installations, and RIS installations.
Windows Server 2003 boasts a lot of new security features, so start reviewing your security setup now and plan to take advantage of the enhancements. Also, determine what it will mean in terms of the upgrade.
Active Directory
If you're new to Active Directory (as you're likely to be if you're running on NT), research and learn all you can about it. Download Microsoft's white papers on the subject.
In Windows Server 2003 Active Directory is more powerful than in W2K Server. Once you know what it's all about and how it works, prepare your domain structure for AD. If you have a complex domain structure, there's a lot of planning to be done.
A tip: If at all possible, standardise your network on TCP/IP.
Other issues
Don't forget the critical importance of share, file, and print access control lists (and the accompanying permissions issues), or productivity might grind to a halt after migration.
If you're not migrating applications like Exchange Server as part of your migration to Windows Server 2003--and especially if you're planning to run Windows Server 2003 in native mode--make sure which services you'll have to enable on your servers to support these legacy apps. Exchange 5.5, for example, requires WINS to run.
If you're planning on running your network in mixed mode (having Windows Server 2003 assign a domain controller to act as a PDC for NT BDCs), be aware of the limitations and possible pitfalls. For example, you can't use all the advanced features the new operating system has to offer; remember that only one Windows Server 2003 domain controller can act as a PDC for NT BDCs, and the first domain controller you install will perform this role.
When deciding which features of the new operating system to implement, don't be in too much of a hurry; first get it on its feet before you (try to) make it dance. It will reduce the complexity of your task and make troubleshooting somewhat simpler.
Plan your test bed network properly as well. For realistic and thorough testing, your test bed should properly reflect your network, including things like a router and firewall, some workstations with the different operating systems and applications you're using, and a couple of servers. Once you think everything is working okay, bring in some users for the final testing, especially those using critical apps. If all goes well, you're ready for the big rollout.
Other helpful links:
- Windows .NET Server 2003 Standard Edition Help Documentation
- Windows .NET Server 2003 Enterprise Edition Help Documentation
- Windows .NET Server 2003 Datacenter Edition Help Documentation
- Top 10 Benefits of Windows .NET Server 2003
- System Requirements
- Coexistence of Windows Server 2003 and Windows NT 4.0
- Moving Windows NT 4 and Windows 2000 Applications to Windows Server 2003 (This is a white paper that explains how to plan an application migration strategy and describes how you can use various utilities and technical resources to deploy Windows Server 2003 as an application server and Web server.)
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