Hi All,

We have a critical 24x7 SQL cluster (W2K), which is a member of an NT 4
domain. As hardware is getting old, and NT4 domain is going to disappear in
the near future, the cluster has to be re-newed. There is also a trusted
Active Directory domain, which holds about all user accounts and groups.
These accounts and groups have been assigned appropriate rights to SQL and
application generated reports.

What makes this a bit more difficult, is that the company is also going to
split, as is network and AD. The split will take place within few months,
but the new AD (where the users finally will be located) is expected to be
in place and fully functional within one year. However, the new cluster
should be up and running within two months. The cluster will be built on
Windows server 2003 Enterprise.

What I should do, is to provide best scenario for implementing new cluster,
so that it minimizes work when AD domains in question change.

As far as I am concerned, if you change a cluster domain membership, you
need to rebuild the whole cluster. This is not what we want to do. We are
prepared to re-assign all appropriate user right and roles as users' domain
changes.

I see following scenarios:
1. join new cluster to present AD domain
2. install new cluster nodes as domain controllers for new "domainlet" or
domain and create trust relationships as needed
3. install separate domain controllers, and join cluster to this domain,
create trust relationships as needed
4. something else?

In scenario 1 I see most work; rebuilding the whole cluster within a year or
so. About scenarios 2 and 3 I'd like to have comments, especially about
using domainlets
(http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/administration/cluster/domain
lets.asp). Or, there might be a lot better option, which I have not come to
think about.

Please share your opinions and comments,

John