Document the Existing Network Configuration

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

Document the existing network configuration for your Windows NT 4.0 domain. Some network adapter drivers that are included with earlier versions of the operating system are not distributed with Windows Server 2003. If you attempt to upgrade a Windows NT 4.0–based domain controller to Windows Server 2003 and a network adapter is installed for which a driver is not provided, your network information might be lost or detected incorrectly during the upgrade.

Note

• You can install device drivers that are not included on the Windows Server 2003 operating system CD from the vendor’s Web site.

Create a network configuration table listing the type of network adapter that each domain controller uses. Also include the TCP/IP configuration information for each domain controller, including IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway. You can run the ipconfig command at the command line to determine IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway. For more information about the ipconfig command, type ipconfig /? at the command line.

To determine whether the network card is supported by Windows Server 2003, see the Windows Server Catalog link on the Web Resources page at https://www.microsoft.com/windows/reskits/webresources.

For a worksheet to assist you in documenting your existing Windows NT 4.0 network configuration, see "Windows NT 4.0 Network Configuration" (DSSUPNT_3.doc) or "Windows NT 4.0 Domain Controller Documentation" (DSSUPNT_5.xls) on the Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit companion CD (or see "Windows NT 4.0 Network Configuration" or "Windows NT 4.0 Domain Controller Documentation" on the Web at https://www.microsoft.com/reskit).

Figure 8.6 shows an example of a network configuration worksheet for the EAST domain for Trey Research.

Figure 8.6   Example of a Windows NT 4.0 Network Configuration Worksheet