Collecting Design Information

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

In preparation for deployment, the forest owner in your organization is responsible for working with the deployment team to acquire the following information:

• Documentation of your current Windows NT 4.0 environment.

• Names of the Windows NT 4.0 domains that will be upgraded and the order in which to upgrade them.

• Supported operating system upgrade paths for your Windows NT 4.0–based domain controllers.

Information such as domain diagrams, network services, and trust relationships might have been documented as part of the design process, and collecting it will be a matter of querying the design team. However, information such as the existing network and hardware configuration of each domain controller might have to be collected or documented by the forest owner during the deployment phase of the project.

In addition, the forest owner is responsible for developing a test plan and for developing a recovery plan in the event that the deployment does not complete successfully.

Figure 8.2 shows the steps involved in collecting the design information that will be used to upgrade Windows NT 4.0 domains to Windows Server 2003 Active Directory.

Figure 8.2   Collecting Design Information