NT Server & 2000-pro network in harmony?

will it work?

[wruk999]

Hi there,

can anyone help - I have a small network, serviced by a Windows NT4.0 server, and different client machines running, Nt Wkstn, 98 & Me.
I have just built a new computer and have put 2000 professional on it - will this computer connect as a client to the NT Server, without having to upgrade the server to windows 2000 server.

Also, someone told me that 2000 pro has server elements in it? is this true, and to what extent can a 2000 pro machine be used as a server? (for basic logging-on/authenticating & file/print sharing)

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Regards,
William

[mattb]

William:

We have an NT 4 server servicing Win 2k clients. Everything works fine. Although, we're currently in the process of upgrading the server to win2k.

You can use Win 2k Pro as a file server, web server, etc. similar to Win NT 4 Work Station. We share files between Win 2k Pro computers without any problems. Win 2k Server gives you administrative power over login and file security. Coupled with greater stability, I would recommend upgrading when it is feasible to Win 2k server.

[wruk999]

Thanks Matt,

For the time being, I am going to stick with NT Server 4.0 - for the job it does, it runs as smooth as anything.

Im just still having trouble getting my 2000 pro machine to hook up to the network. I know the network card is working, because the lights on the card itself & on the hub are lighting up.

I have set the IP address & Subnet mask for the TCP/IP protocol - but on the 'Network Identification' tab of System Properties, when I try to connect to my domain, it comes back saying

"The specified domain either does not exist of could not be contacted"

Is there something else I need to configure, either on the 2000 pro machine itself, or indeed on the NT Server?

Any help will be GREATLY appreciated :)

Regards,
William

[RZaakir]

Make sure that you have the same protocols installed on the 2000 system. If I'm not mistaken, 2000 only has TCP/IP installed by default, if your NT4 server doesn't use TCP/IP (this is very common) then it could be a protocol issue, install the appropriate protocols (IPX / SPX etc.) that match your server.

You also want to make sure that you're on the same subnet as your NT server. Does your Internet access work properly?

I work with NT4 in a 2000 environment is it's as smooth as silk. When the costs of changing are taken into consideration, Active Directory is overkill for us so I definitely understand your position. I have an NT4 server running next to two Win2K servers and the NT4 server is the trooper of the bunch.

[wruk999]

Hi,

Yes the rest of the network uses the TCP/IP protocol - and runs as smooth as anything.
Yes I have set the subnet masks the same.
and the ip address in the form of:
server: 111.111.111.1
2000 pc: 111.111.111.5
[obv not these figures, just representing the last digit is the only one different]

in 2000 - they have moved & renamed everything!
I can't find (in 2000) the option where (as in Me/98) it has the option:
"Log onto Windows NT Domain"

any ideas? is there anything I'm not doing/missing?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Regards.
William

[RZaakir]

Right click on My Computer and go to Properties (or if you want to impress your friends, hold down the window key and press Pause¦Break). Then click on the Network Identification tab. Then click on the button that says Properties. This is where you can join the computer to the domain.

Did you say that your Internet is working on this 2000 machine? If it is, then try to ping the server by IP address. If you can ping it by IP but can't join the domain, you may want to make sure that Netbios over TCP/IP is enabled.

You can check Netbios over TCP/IP by right clicking on My Network Places and selecting properties, and then right clicking on your active network interface (probably called "Local Area Connection") and selecting properties. Now, find TCP/IP in the listbox and double click it. At the bottom of the dialog that comes up is a button labeled advanced, click it. FINALLY, in the dialog that comes up, click on the WINS tab and make sure that "Enable Netbios over TCP/IP" is checked.

Let me know what happens.
Rashid

[wruk999]

Hi again,

I have checked the NetBios over TCP/IP and it was set correctly.
Have got the IP range the same as the rest of the network,
But still no joy :(

Does anyone know where the option of being "Authenticated against a Windows NT domain" is/should be?

or: when you go to the 'Network Identification' tab on system properties..you can use the Network ID button which takes you to a wizard for connecting to a network.
Whe you go through to enter the information, you get 5 different boxes labelled:

1) User name - Is this a network or local UN?
2) Password - Is this a network or local PW?
3) User Account Domain - what is this?

4) Computer name - normal machine name i presume?
5) Computer Domain - again, is this network domain, or what?

Do I need to add the computer into "Server Manager" on the NT server? If so, what should I add it as?

If anyone can help, it will be so much appreciated.

Regards.
William.