Decommisioning NT4 (BDCs)

Environment:
Two NT4 Servers as BDCs
1 Win2k3 Server with AD (GC enabled and holds FSMO roles as well)
1 Win2k3 Server with AD (for redundancy)

What is the proper way to decommision the 2 old (NT4) servers? Is it as easy
as shutting them down and unplugging them from the network? Do I have to do
anything (either on W2k3 or NT4 machines) before shutting them down? Thanks.

 

You can reference:
How to remove Windows NT4 BDC (Backup Domain Controller) From Active
directory?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555521

 

Hello,

Thank you for using newsgroup!

Suggestions:
=============

Yes, we can simply delete the Windows NT 4 BDC directly from Active
Directory Users and Computers snap-in.

Also, we can use two Windows Support tools (ldp.exe and ADSI Edit) to
search the object in the AD database and then delete the Windows NT BDC
objects. Please use the following steps after taking the old Windows NT
BDCs offline:

Warning: If you use the ADSI Edit snap-in, the LDP utility, or any other
LDAP version 3 clients, and you incorrectly modify the attributes of Active
Directory objects, you can cause serious problems. These problems may
require you to reinstall Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Microsoft Windows
Server 2003, Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server, Microsoft Exchange Server
2003, or both Windows and Exchange. Microsoft cannot guarantee that
problems that occur if you incorrectly modify Active Directory object
attributes can be solved. Please pay more attention to the following
operations.

Therefore, for recovery purposes, please perform a complete backup for the
new Windows Server 2003 DC first.

1. Check the Windows Support Tools has been installed on the new Windows
Server 2003 DC. (The Support Tools can be installed using the
SUPPORT\TOOLS\SETUP.EXE on the Installation CD.)

2. Click Start, click Run, and then type "ldp.exe" (without the quotation
marks).

3. Click Connect on the Connection menu.

4. Click OK with the default settings.

5. On the Connection menu, click Bind.

6. Click OK with the default settings.

7. On the Browse menu, click Search.

8. In the BaseDN box, type the distinguished name of the domain. For
example, for the domain "myDomain.com", type "DC=myDomain,DC=com" (without
the quotation marks).

9. In the Filter box, type the name of the old Windows NT BDC. For example,
if the old BDC's NetBIOS name is MyBDC, type "cn=MyBDC" (without the
quotation marks).

10. In the Scope section, click Subtree.

11. Click Run.

Then please record the items found in the LDP.exe utility, and delete them
using ADSI Edit.

12. Click Start, click Run, and then type "adsiedit.msc" (without the
quotation marks).

13. Browse to the objects found in Step 11.

14. Right click the related object and choose Delete.

15. Check the DNS and WINS server to delete the related records for the old
Windows NT BDC.

Then please try to join the new server with the same system name as the old
Windows NT BDC to see if it works now. If there is any error message,
please send me a screen shot.

I hope the above information helps. Thanks and have a great day!

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Thanks & Regards,

Hope this helps.

Mike Luo

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

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Thanks to both of you (Mike and leew). The KB article and your suggestions
are great.

 

Appreciate your response. I am very glad to hear that information be
helpful to you. It is my pleasure to be of assistance.

Mike Luo

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

=====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.