Can I back up a 10.3 user list to restore into 10.4 to migrate users?

[Demani]

10.3.9 server, mail has completely crapped out and we are using this as an opportunity to upgrade (all the add-ons with 10.4 are going to be needed anyway). There are about 65 users with OpenDirectory passwords.

Never used OD before, but I have to migrate this machine from 10.3 to 10.4- actually we’re moving from one machine to another. How can I export the 10.3 server’s OD users and passwords to import into 10.4? I saw that the export command only does usernames, but not passwords, and I would like to keep the passwords. The warning dialog says that passwords can be kept by backing up and restoring- but my understanding was that the data types between the two versions were different (i.e. 10.3 can’t replicate 10.4). Is exporting without passwords my only option? Will this have any effect on the mail portion (which I’m posting about in that forum)? My guess was no but I was hoping for an answer from someone who wasn’t guessing.
Thanks for any help.

[maccanada]

Andrina did a great piece on exactly this procedure

Importing users into 10.4 without their old passwords will not affect mail…but this method works – obvioulsy test it all out first and have a backup.

We also have articles on backing up the mail server for both 10.3 and 10.4

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