Hi, I currently have a 2008 server running dhcp not a domain server. I have introduced a second 2008 server and would like this server to control half the computers in the organisation. I would like this server to be a domain controller so I can use active directory to roll out software upgrades when required. Is it possible to have a domain controller without it assigning DHCP?

Yes. Just make sure your member's computer have that domain controler as a DNS's server and nothing else listed. You will have to manually edit your member's computer NIC setting, or you might just configure your DHCP to give that DNS's server, as the DHCP's server does not have Active Directory on it.MCP | MCTS 70-236: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring

Hi Tony, It is OK that we have a Domain Controller without it assigning DHCP. Actually we do not recommended installing DHCP Server in a Domain Controller. We can check the threads below: Security Issue of DHCP on Domain Controller http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/eu/winserverNIS/thread/2057eeed-7fe4-46c0-bff8-3f62ea68b56d DHCP Best Practices and DC http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winserverNIS/thread/1515eca4-8716-4360-9d40-383145c528ff/ Hope the information can be useful to you. Regards KevinTechNet Community Support

Yes its very much possible to have a Domain controller without a DHCP roles assigned to it. As a matter of fact I believe its the best practice to do that because DC serves the log on request of the users and DNS queries. By installing DHCP on DC you will not only make DC overloaded to fullfill client request who are looking for ip address and also it poses a security threat. http://www.arabitpro.com