Domain Functional Levels

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anything I don't mind

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I have a DC that is windows 2008 x64 and the functional level of the domain and forest are at windows 2000. Is it possible to just raise the functional level or do I have to run adprep tools? I can find a lot of guides for raising the level but none specifically for windows 2000 level domains on windows 2008 OS. Also is it worth the hassle of raising the level, what are the immediate benefits that I will notice?
 
SoundsGood said:
Are you sure?

"To activate the newest domain features, all the domain controllers must be running the newest Windows Server operating system version in the domain. If this requirement is met, the administrator can raise the domain functional level. "
Click to expand...

Yes, very sure. If you introduce a 2k8 domain controller to an existing domain you upgrade Active Directory as part of this process. The domain can still live on a lower forest functional level, but you have upgraded AD.

Active directory schema versions:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/activedi...windows-server-2008-r2-adprep-forestprep.aspx

Upgrading domains to Windows 2008
http://blogs.technet.com/b/omers/ar...ws-2003-to-microsoft-windows-server-2008.aspx
 
There is one DC that is a VM that is a 2008 standard x64 (not r2) can confirm exactly tomorrow. There is also a vm snapshot made of the vm that is not enabled on the network (not sure why this exists). I have no information on how the domain was upgraded. All I know is that it used to be a physical box and now it is vm. Exchange server 2007 is another vm.

I would guess someone made a new dc and then made that the primary dc and then decommission the old dc.
 
Last edited:
groen said:
I have a DC that is windows 2008 x64 and the functional level of the domain and forest are at windows 2000. Is it possible to just raise the functional level or do I have to run adprep tools? I can find a lot of guides for raising the level but none specifically for windows 2000 level domains on windows 2008 OS. Also is it worth the hassle of raising the level, what are the immediate benefits that I will notice?
Click to expand...


Back to the original question:

1. Adprep should have already been run on the domain if you've got a 2k8 DC. I would suggest you not needing to run it.
2. Benefits list below, although worth noting again all your DC's need to have AT LEAST the OS level of what you're raising to, downlevel DC's (<2k8) will cease to function. Also bear in mind it's a one way process (without major re-works).
http://searchwindowsserver.techtarget.com/feature/Active-Directory-FAQs

All differences should be linked somehwre on that URL above. If not, google is your friend. ;)
 
You can have 2008 schema AD on server 2003 & 2000 domain, as the first stage of the upgrade is to upgrade the schema without adding any DC's as that is how you have to manage windows 7 (or Vista) clients in a 2003 domain. You upgrade the schema, and then use a Windows 7 (or Vista) machine to manage Group Policies.

We are running a 2008R2 Schema domain on 2003 DC's.

This command will show your Schema level:

dsquery * cn=schema,cn=configuration,dc=xxx,dc=xxx -scope base -attr objectVersion


server 2003 = version 31, server 2008r2 = 47
 
adprep /forestprep adprep domainpep is run on the 2003 DC prior to upgrading the server to 2008. This prepares the Schema

You cant raise the Domain functional level to 2008 R2 till all Domain controllers are 2008R2 so until they are all 2008R2 you will have to run on the lower domain functional level

In turn you cant raise the Forest functional level to 2008R2 untill all Domains in the forest are running 2008 R2 domain functional level

Hope this helps
 
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