Upgrading to Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, and Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition on Cluster Nodes
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
Upgrading to Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, and Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition on cluster nodes
If you are upgrading from Windows 2000 to Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition or Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition on cluster nodes, you might be able to perform a rolling upgrade of the operating system. In a rolling upgrade, you sequentially upgrade the operating system on each node, making sure that one node is always available to handle client requests. When you upgrade the operating system, the Cluster service is automatically upgraded also. A rolling upgrade maximizes availability of clustered services and minimizes administrative complexity.
If you are upgrading from Windows NT 4.0, Enterprise Edition to Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition on cluster nodes, you cannot perform a rolling upgrade. For more information about how to perform an upgrade from Windows NT 4.0, Enterprise Edition, see Upgrade a Cluster from Windows NT 4.0.
For more information, see the following topics:
For a diagram and description of a rolling upgrade, see How rolling upgrades work.
To determine whether you can perform a rolling upgrade, see Restrictions on rolling upgrades.
For information about support for various types of resources during a rolling upgrade, see the following:
For information about ways to upgrade your cluster nodes if you cannot perform a rolling upgrade, see Alternatives to rolling upgrades.