Plan for Test Migrations

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

You can create a pilot for the migration process by migrating users and the global groups of which they are members to the target domain. However, unless you are migrating a closed set of users and groups in your pilot, the global groups will become universal groups and replicate their membership to the global catalog for the duration of the migration process. Use a test lab that simulates your production environment to test your migration process and to resolve any issues before you begin to restructure your Active Directory domains. Continue to test your migration process until you correct as many errors as possible.

Make sure that you test user access to resources after each step of the migration. If users do not have access to resources during the migration process, the migration is not successful.

For more information about setting up a pilot to test migration, see "Restructuring Windows NT 4.0 Domains to an Active Directory Forest" in this book.