Need help - upgrading 2k advanced cluster to 2k3 enterprise

[ws6 0]

Hi, I need some help. I work for a school that 3 servers. We are planning on upgrading our servers to win 2k3 over christmas break (about 1 week downtime). Here is my problem. One of the cluster box's is my PDC. The cluster runs everything (SQL, Exchange, school management, printer, etc) and the 3rd box is just an ISA firewall w/ content filtering and analisys. When I upgrade the servers I won't be able to just upgrade them since I am adding another drive to thier local raid array (boot disk). I am having total redo the raid array. Also I don't have time to redo all the classroom computer right now (only 1 week's time). What would you all suggest?

 

I had 1 idea but didn't know how well it would work. First more my PDC to the firewall, then wipe and reinstall cluster. After cluster was back up, move PDC back and wipe/reinstall firewall. Would this work or do you think I will have problems in the future? Also will I get a chance to upgrade active directory to the 2k3 version doing this?

 

Thanks,

Chris T.

[DS3Circuit 0]

Interesting setup ...

 

Since an in your place upgrade is almost ALWAYS be out of the question, I would concur with your suggestion in promoting your ISA server to a DC (temporarily, as this maybe a security risk; depending if you are leaving AD out in the DMZ).

 

Move the FSMO and GC role from the cluster to the ISA box.

 

Rebuild the cluster as either A/A or A/P. Promote the server as a DC. Move the roles all back from the ISA box.

 

Demote the ISA box. I dont see a need to format it down.

 

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Things to consider:

 

Have you gotten Exchange2003 as it is only supported on Win2K3.

Will you be moving mailboxes as well?

How will you migrate the printers?

Will your version of SQL server run in Win2k3?

Are the classroom machines going to be able to log into the new domain? Downlevel clients need the latest DSclient from MS .... build 2900.5 IIRC

 

And thats the tip of the iceberg.

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My suggestion would be to completely remove the idea of a cluster.

 

And start breaking up the Application Servers.

 

I myself work fulltime for an educational institution, and have never seen a need for such redundancy as in a 24/7 DB operation.

 

You have quite a bit of reading ahead of you and perhaps hiring a consultant. Good luck in your migration. The more details you post here, the more I and the other messageboard members can give help.

[ws6 0]

Thank for your responce.

 

I plan to redo my ISA box for 2 reasons. 1 is that I need to add another drive to it's raid array (it is too small), needs more ram, and I am going to put win 2k3 std server on it (it is currently running win2k std server). I have a free upgrade for 2k3. The ISA box is currently a DC becouse it has to be for some software I have running on it.

 

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I am migrating to exchange 2k3 this weekend. I have a feeling it is going to be fun. I have already done 1 migration on a standard server. When I do upgrade my cluster I was looking at dumping my exchange mailboxes to pst files (I only have about 40 mailboxes) and then strip my exchange info from active directory. I did this when I upgraded from exchange 2k std to clustered exchange 2k enterprise and worked very well. After I get my cluster back up and done messing with the directory i will reinstall exchange and import my mailboxes back.

For printer migration I will just have to reinstall the printer from scratch. I plan to use the same naming structure that I am right now. In theory, though, if I keep the virtual server names and the printer share names the same they won't have to reinstall them. If they do, the staff here knows how to delete and re-install printers.

I am running SQL 2k enterprise (I have a school agreement for my server btw). This won't be a problem.

All my workstations are a mix of win 2k pro and xp pro (183 total). You don't need the Dsclient these right? It is only if you are running 98/ME/NT 4 or lower, right?

 

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Hehe, running the cluster is nice in some things. The reason that we have it is due to an idea our old priciples husband had. Once it is up and running it works great. I am running it A/A. Exchange, IIS, and school stuff on 1 box. SMS, SQL, and church stuff on the other. It is kind of overkill. The public highschool system here though just got a datacenter cluster for the district (we are private).

 

Thanks,

Chris T.

[DS3Circuit 0]

Quote:

You don't need the Dsclient these right? It is only if you are running 98/ME/NT 4 or lower, right?

correct

G'luck to you. If you run into any problems, there is always PSS