I looked into this a while ago. Like you, lots of people said they had very good experience with the product. Unfortunately, we weren't able to use it in our environment because of problems with the Compaq SMART RAID disk array controller. This is from the UPromote FAQ:
"Q: Is UPromote compatible with the Compaq SMART RAID disk array controller? A: The Compaq SMART RAID disk array controller has a known problem where it sometimes loses data when rebooting. This includes registry modifications. To prevent problems UPromote will warn you if it detects the presence of a Compaq SMART RAID disk array controller. For more information see Compaq SMART RAID. " I also heard that MS won't support systems that have been demoted using Upromote. If this concerns you at all you might want to double-check with your Microsoft TAM. Tony ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Rick Boza <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 09:02:21 -0400 I�ve seen upromote used on a project to demote more than a hundred (yes, 100!!!) BDC�s to member servers in preparation for an AD upgrade. Worked pretty darn close to flawlessly. On 10/20/04 7:53 PM, "Ayers, Diane" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Ditto. Used it once to "demote" a BDC that was also a time source in the NT > 4.0 world. wanted to keep the server but didn't want it to be a BDC anymore. > Best $99 bucks spent as far as saved time, etc. > > Diane > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Stockbrugger, Brian > L. > Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 4:35 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] BDC upgrade > > We have used this tool on two occasions and it worked flawlessly both times. > We went into it knowing the risks and ramifications. In the end it saved us > days of work which was the alternative and well worth the risk. > > ~Brian > > > > From: Robert Rutherford [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 4:21 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] BDC upgrade > > > http://utools.com/UPromote.asp > > > > BR > > > > Rob > > > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Perdue David J Contr > InDyne/Enterprise IT > Sent: Wed 20/10/2004 23:59 > To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' > Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] BDC upgrade > > I think this is the one you are talking about Brian. It's formerly Aelita, > but now is Quest. > http://wm.quest.com/products/domainmigrationwizard/ > They've got a a product that will "demote" a NT4 PDC/BDC. It's pretty > slick. And totally not supported by MS. > > Dave > > > ------------------------------------------------ > David J. Perdue > MCSE 2000, MCSE NT, MCSA, MCP+I > ------------------------------------------------ > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brian Desmond > Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 3:37 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] BDC upgrade > > Have you looked into the File Server Migration Toolkit from MS? It's a > utility for moving file servers and it includes a patch for 2003 that makes > it so the old server name still works - utilizes aSP1 feature called DFS > Consolidation Roots. > > That aside, I forget who (been awhile), but somebody makes a hundred dollar > utility which will let you convert a BDC to a member server. It's totally > unsupported by MS, so if stuff breaks, you may be out of luck. I'd look > towards the migration kit mentioned above, myself. > > Thanks. > > --Brian Desmond > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Payton on the web! www.wpcp.org > > v - 773.534.0034 x135 > f - 773.534.8101 > >> > -----Original Message----- >> > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:ActiveDir- >> > [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Janson Anderson >> > Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 5:29 PM >> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> > Subject: [ActiveDir] BDC upgrade >> > >> > Hi all, >> > >> > I'm merging/upgrading some NT 4 domains together. >> > Domain A and Domain B are both account and resource domains. >> > >> > I've upgraded Domain A to 2003, and am planning to migrate users and >> > computers from Domain B into Domain A using ADMT v2. >> > >> > Domain B is small. In fact when I took over it consisted of a single >> > PDC that had all files on it. I've since added a second DC and >> > transfered the PDC role to it. >> > >> > So, to get to my question: >> > >> > The BDC in Domain B has all the files of the Users I am going to be >> > transfering. Is there any way to upgrade this BDC to a 2003 member >> > server without upgrading the domain to 2k3 AD first? I would then >> > just move it to domain A as a member server using ADMT. From what >> > I've read it seems the only way would be to upgrade the PDC to 2k3, >> > then upgrade this bdc to 2k3 then dcpromo it down to a member server. >> > Is this the route I have to take, or is there an easier way? >> > >> > Thanks in advance for the help. >> > List info : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm >> > List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm >> > List archive: >> > http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/ > List info : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm > List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm > List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/ > List info : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm > List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm > List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/ > > ======================================================================= > Scanned for virus infection by Messagelabs > ======================================================================= > ________________________________________________________________ Sent via the WebMail system at mail.activedir.org List info : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/
