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How to upgrade W2K DC to W2K3 DC?

This is a mixture of W2K and W2K3 DCs AD environment. There are two domain, a.com, and b.a.com respectively; one W2K Dc and one W2K3 DC are located at a.com, and one W2K3 dc located at b.a.com.

My boss wants me to upgrade the only W2K DC located at a.com. There are 3 sites, W2K Dc is located at site a, W2K3 at site b, and another W2K3 at site c. W2K dc is also file server with up to 120GB files and folders.

Can I directly upgrade to W2K3 for the w2k dc? What are those considerations I have to take to prepare this dc for upgrading? Any better solutions with less risk are welcome!

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Lee W, MVP

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debuggerau

Are you considering Win2K3 R2? might be a good time to update them all?

you may want to look at changing the domain level from mixed mode, or Win2K mode to Win2K3 mode after completing the upgrade also..

Balack

ASKER

Hi debuggerau,

Can I assume W2K3 R2 is same as W2K3? No enhancement features provided by W2K3 R2 DC?

debuggerau

basically, yes, it is the same, although there are some additional features..

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-au/windowsserver/bb428898.aspx

Lee W, MVP

If you already have a 2003 R2 DC, then there's nothing you need to do special. If you don't then you would have to run ADPREP since R2 DOES make changes to the schema. Otherwise, R2 is basically a bunch of feature packs, some that you can download freely and some that you only get if you purchase the upgrade.

Balack

ASKER

Hi Leew,
That means I have to put in the windows 2003 R2 CD, and then run adprep for forest and domain? For domain, does it means that I only have to run for a.com, but not b.a.com, right?