Restructuring Windows NT 4.0 Resource Domains

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

You can restructure your Windows NT 4.0 resource domains into the Active Directory regional domain that is in the same geographic location, so that resources and the users who need them are in the same location. Keep in mind that when you restructure Windows NT 4.0 resource domains to Windows Server 2003 Active Directory regional domains, you can configure OUs to preserve the organization and administrative structure of the resource domain.

Alternatively, you can maintain the Windows NT 4.0 resource domain until you restructure the domain at a later point or eliminate it by attrition. You might choose to preserve a Windows NT 4.0 resource domain if you are running applications on domain controllers that are not compatible with Windows Server 2003.

Note

• If your resource domain is dedicated to hosting Exchange 5.5, do not restructure it into a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory regional domain. For information about upgrading your Microsoft Exchange environment, see the Exchange Server link on the Web Resources page at https://www.microsoft.com/windows/reskits/webresources.

Figure 2.26 shows how Contoso Corporation chose to restructure Windows NT 4.0 resource domains into OU structures within the new Active Directory regional domains in the same geographical location.

Figure 2.26   Contoso Corporation Restructuring of Windows NT 4.0 Resource Domains into OUs in Active Directory Regional Domains