Hi, We currently have a Windows server 2003 R2 domain. We have a new server with Windows 2008. Initially we plan to add the new server to the domain as a member server. We will, at a later date, promote it to a domain controller. I believe that we would need to prepare the domain for this. Initially, is there any issue with or preporation that we need to do to join the new server to the domain as a member server only. Any help would be appreciated. Many thanks

Hello, to add the new server as a DC, refer to this Microsoft article about ugrading to Windows Server 2008 / 2008 R2 AD DS: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731188(WS.10).aspx All needed preparations are mentioned in the article. If you have any errors thanks to post them here. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights. Microsoft Student Partner Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator: Security Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer: Security Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuration

Hi, Thank you for the reply. Would I need to to any prep to join the new baox as a member server and not a DC. We are not in a position to uprgade the whole network yet. Thanks

To add it as a member server, you don't need preparations. If you want to add it as a DC then refer to the article I gave. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights. Microsoft Student Partner Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator: Security Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer: Security Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuration

You can prepare for the 2008 DC by running ADPREP. Preparing your Active Directory Infrastructure for 2008 http://www.anitkb.com/2010/03/preparing-your-active-directory.html Simply adding a 2008 member server does not require updating the schema.Visit: anITKB.com, an IT Knowledge Base.

Hi, Thanks for that. Just to confiem then, adding a 2008 member server(no roles added) should not cause any issues with the existing 2003 AD. Thanks

Hello, see some details in my blog about: http://msmvps.com/blogs/mweber/archive/2010/02/10/upgrading-an-active-directory-domain-from-windows-server-2003-to-windows-server-2008-or-windows-server-2008-r2.aspx If you use Exchange please make sure to read: http://msmvps.com/blogs/mweber/archive/2010/05/23/exchange-server-and-it-s-relationship-to-active-directory.aspxBest regards Meinolf Weber Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights.

Adding a members server, there should not be any issue with exisiting windows 2003 AD. Before doing promotion to DC read the blog mention by Meinolf and others. Thanks

Many thanks to all

Here are the high level steps: 1. Upgrade the schema using correct version of OS – Adprep a. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd464018(WS.10).aspx b. http://portal.sivarajan.com/2010/03/windows-2008-r2-adprep.html 2. Verify the schema version a. http://portal.sivarajan.com/2010/03/active-directory-schema-version.html 3. Install a new Windows 2008 server and join it to the domain. Perform DC promo and select “additional DC for an existing DC option” a. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee797379(CS.10).aspx 4. If you are planning to decommission the old servers, you need transfer FSMO, DHCP etc a. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324801 b. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/962355/en-us c. http://blogs.technet.com/b/networking/archive/2008/06/27/steps-to-move-a-dhcp-database-from-a-windows-server-2003-or-2008-to-another-windows-server-2008-machine.aspx Santhosh Sivarajan | MCTS, MCSE (W2K3/W2K/NT4), MCSA (W2K3/W2K/MSG), CCNA, Network+ Houston, TX Blogs - http://blogs.sivarajan.com/ Articles - http://www.sivarajan.com/publications.html Twitter: @santhosh_sivara - http://twitter.com/santhosh_sivara This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers no rights.