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Mixing 2003 and 2008 domain controllers - GPO question

I have two 03 DC's and one 08 DC in this location.. all serving the same network/subnet. I'm wanting to deploy printers based of security group membership. So I hopped on the 08 DC, created a new GPO, assigned it to the specific group I want. Then hindsight kicks in.. how well does 03 and 08 play together in terms of Group Policy?

Also I discover today that the old printer server is dying, I've created another on a VM using Server 08 and obviously I'd love to actually deploy the new server to all 250 of my users without visiting each desk. So will I need to upgrade/migrate my existing 03 DC's to 08 in oder for this new GPO to work properly? Does the 08 server need to be assigned a specific FSMO role?

All help MUCH appreciated.
Thanks

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PeteJThomas

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Ben Hart

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I hear ya Pete.. I just wonder if there's another way to assign printers since the 2003 policies force you to use a script. /trots off to google

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Henrik Johansson

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MagicFarmer

I am agreement with henjoh -- your domain controller OS make no difference in this scenario. We have a split of servers, 2003 and 2008 as well as a myriad of OS on the user end, but my primary domain controller is still my original server, 2003R2.

PeteJThomas

Afraid we haven't migrated to 2k8 yet, so I'm not sure if there are new ways to push out printers... Though I'm sure I've heard someone on here mention a printer management mmc which can be enforced by GPO or something...

And there's no guarantee that these new policy settings will even apply to the older clients or not! Though in that text I quoted, it does say you can see the supported OS list in the description for the setting itself (within GPMC)...

Not being much help am I... lol :(

Ben Hart

ASKER

Back in the day, (i.e. 10 yrs ago) give ot take. I coulda swore the highest level OS would attempt to become Master Browser.. or is that not true anymore?

Henrik Johansson

It's true that newer OS takes precedence in automatic master browser election, but that isn't related to if a GPO will apply to a client OS.
Client OS nead to match the requirement for the policy setting to apply the GPO.