Hi all,

I am new to this forum and hope somebody can help with this issue. I currently have 7 servers running different O.Ss and processes.

Two servers have Windows 2000 Server installed and are Domain Controllers. One of the domain controllers is also my print server. Three other servers also have Windows 2000 server installed, are configured as standalone servers, and are running the following processes.
One is my VPN/Remote Access and my file server, another one runs an application accessed by two users and the Terminal Server Services. The third one hosts our main system, which is a Fox Pro 6.0 database.
The last two servers are also configured as standalone servers and have Windows 2003 Server installed.
One of the servers has SQL 2005, which is hosting our new databases and the other one is our MS Project Server.
I am planning to replace all of the boxes by Rack servers and I would like to see how many servers I actually need. In other words, maybe reducing the servers to only four and spread the processes across these four. Perhaps, use two of those rack servers as Domain Controllers, but assign more processes to them. The other two, use them as standalone servers and assign the rest of the tasks to them.
Additionally, Windows 2008 server will be released next month and I am debating if I should use 2003 or 2008.
Is there a way to migrate the Active Directory from a Windows 2000 server to Windows 2003 or 2008?
I would really appreciate any input.
Thanks in advance.

Ok, this is just my personal opinion so keep that in mind.

I would recommend minimum two DC's to provide yourself with redundancy. I would not run any other services on these except for perhaps DHCP, DNS and things like that.

I would go with a separate standalone server for each and every database since those tend to be rather resource intensive.

You might want to look at combining RRAS and Terminal Services on a single server depending on number of remote and TS users.

Instead of using PC's or servers as print servers, I would get print server boxes that are small and portable like an HP JetDirect box.

You can migrate 2000 to 2003. I can't say about 2008 since I have yet to do any reading up on it. I would suspect you could upgrade 2003 to 2008 but you'd have to do your own research on whether or not you could migrate 2000 to 2008.

Personally, and again keep in mind this is just my opinion, I would never rush into any new operating system of MS's. Look at the present issues with Vista. Look at the issues with XP...which were the same issues we now have with Vista. If I recall, 2003 was also released a little on the early side and too suffered from lack of drivers for hardware and had other issues as well.

When it comes to MS operating systems, I tend to wait until they've been out a year or two and at a minimum, Service Pack 1 has been released.

Curt R,

Thanks for your input! I really appreciate it.

My plan is to have two Domain Controllers. This way I will have redundancy. So you are suggesting not to run any other services except DHCP, DNS, etc.?

Any particular reason? Since boxes are now so powerful, I was thinking...."maybe I can run more than one service per box". I see boxes with dual Quad core processors and lots of memory.

As far as the print server, again, one of the DCs has all the printers installed and I just share them. That is my print server. The problem I see with individual print servers is that you will have them all over the place. I have about 20+ printers.

About Windows 2008, I guess you are right. I will stay with 2003 for now.

Thanks for your input.