FE/BE design from W2K to W2K3

[Hugh]

Hi all,
my scenario is as follows:

Current:
2 DC on W2K AD, 1 BackEnd EX2K on W2K, 1 FrontEnd EX2K on W2K

Final:
2 DC on W2K3 AD, 1 EX2K3 cluster BackEnd on W2K3, 2 Front End servers (NLB)
on W2K3

Upgrade process:
1. Upgrade AD 1 by 1 to a W2K3 AD
2. Build an EX2K3 BE cluster using 2 new servers (in same Org)
3. Perform Mailbox migration
4. Rebuild and deploy the old Back-End server into a new W2K3 front-end EX
and replace old W2K Front-end Server.
6: Rebuild the old Front-end server to become a W2K3 Front End Server
7: Configure NLB on the front-end servers.

We have read a couple of articles saying that the Front-end must be upgrade
first, before the Backend.

In my senarios. the backend cluster is to be deployed first.

Is any1 able to comment/suggest a better way to deploy this?

[Brian Desmond [MVP]]

You cannot upgrade the backends until the frontends are upgraded. End of
story. Find a spare box and make it a temporary front end if you have to.

--
Thanks,
Brian Desmond
Windows Server MVP

www.briandesmond.com


"Hugh" <Hugh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:BFDDDAAB-4739-487C-BC85-7FE5E29040B3@microsoft.com...

Hi all,
my scenario is as follows:

Current:
2 DC on W2K AD, 1 BackEnd EX2K on W2K, 1 FrontEnd EX2K on W2K

Final:
2 DC on W2K3 AD, 1 EX2K3 cluster BackEnd on W2K3, 2 Front End servers
(NLB)
on W2K3

Upgrade process:
1. Upgrade AD 1 by 1 to a W2K3 AD
2. Build an EX2K3 BE cluster using 2 new servers (in same Org)
3. Perform Mailbox migration
4. Rebuild and deploy the old Back-End server into a new W2K3 front-end EX
and replace old W2K Front-end Server.
6: Rebuild the old Front-end server to become a W2K3 Front End Server
7: Configure NLB on the front-end servers.

We have read a couple of articles saying that the Front-end must be
upgrade
first, before the Backend.

In my senarios. the backend cluster is to be deployed first.

Is any1 able to comment/suggest a better way to deploy this?