I think your first option is the most manageable. You might find a tool like Quest FastLane Domain Migrator to be worth the money in a relatively complicated situation like yours.
Ed Crowley MCSE+Internet MVP kcCC+I Tech Consultant Compaq Computer Corporation Protecting the world from PSTs and Bricked Backups! -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Keith Beahm Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2002 8:50 AM To: Exchange Discussions Subject: Merging Dissimilar Domains We have a situation in which we will have to merge (as quickly as possible) 5 separate domains into a 6th one. The 5 domains are already physically connected, but the 6th domain (the one they all have to join) cannot be physically connected more than 1 or 2 weeks before they are all expected to be functioning as one. We have discussed four methods - (1) establishing full 2-way trust and migrating the domains at a more relaxed pace over an extended time period. (2) rebuilding the 5 PDC's, rejoining all the member servers and manually importing all the users to the 6th domain. (3) Using tools such as U-Promote or Newsid to modify the SID's of the existing member and DC's in effect forcing them to become members of the 6th domain. (4) hold on cause this one's a little complicated - build a PDC in the 6th domain (this gives it the right SID stock, and all of the existing 6th domain user and server accounts) and ship it off to the other site with the 5 physically connected domains. Then they begin joining the 6th domain ahead of schedule, and on the day of reckoning we unplug the 6th domain PDC (don't want any PDC wars). Then once physically connected the remote PDC should serve all 6 domains, and all the 6th domain admins have to do is re-enter all changes made to server and user accounts since the separation. There are Exchange and SQL servers in each of the 6 domains. The "6th domain" has several SQL and Exchange servers each. In the 6th domain all of the Exchange servers are in the same site. Exchange we had planned to tackle using the Move Server Wizard. SQL we will have to rerun the installation, but the DB's should all remain intact. Your thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated on the topic of domain merges, and/or the handling of SQL and Exchange in this scenario. Keith Beahm, Network Engineer _________________________________________________________________ List posting FAQ: http://www.swinc.com/resource/exch_faq.htm Archives: http://www.swynk.com/sitesearch/search.asp To unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Exchange List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________________________ List posting FAQ: http://www.swinc.com/resource/exch_faq.htm Archives: http://www.swynk.com/sitesearch/search.asp To unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Exchange List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
