LuiLui77
asked on
How to upgrade the AD functional level from 2003 to 2008?
Hello,
I have the following AD environment:
Functional Level: 2003
2 Sites
1 Windows Server 2003 = Primary DNS, DHCP (old FSMO roles holder)
2 Windows Server 2008 = Domain Controller, PDC, all FSMOs, DNS (New FSMO roles holder)
1 Windows Server 2008 R2 = Domain Controller, DNS
A couple of months back I have transferred all the FSMO roles to one of the Windows Sever 2008 DC.
My goal is to decommission and turn off the Windows 2003 Domain controller and upgrade my functional AD level to 2008.
I know I have to run some commands as well to be ale to synchronize the network time with the new 2008 PDC.
Which would be the cleanest way possible to accomplish this task?
Also the right order of the tasks involved will be helpful.
I have the following AD environment:
Functional Level: 2003
2 Sites
1 Windows Server 2003 = Primary DNS, DHCP (old FSMO roles holder)
2 Windows Server 2008 = Domain Controller, PDC, all FSMOs, DNS (New FSMO roles holder)
1 Windows Server 2008 R2 = Domain Controller, DNS
A couple of months back I have transferred all the FSMO roles to one of the Windows Sever 2008 DC.
My goal is to decommission and turn off the Windows 2003 Domain controller and upgrade my functional AD level to 2008.
I know I have to run some commands as well to be ale to synchronize the network time with the new 2008 PDC.
Which would be the cleanest way possible to accomplish this task?
Also the right order of the tasks involved will be helpful.
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Chris H
FYI, An easy way to determine if the services are in use is to turn it off... Lol. Otherwise, make sure DHCP isn't addressing and any other DHCP servers aren't handing out the 2003 server as a DNS server.
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ASKER
Check out the order I am thinking on going about doing this:
- dcpromo down the 2003
- raise functional level to 2008
- sync PDC to online sources
- check on other services provided by the 2003 and migrate them
- shut down the 2003 box
what do you think?
- dcpromo down the 2003
- raise functional level to 2008
- sync PDC to online sources
- check on other services provided by the 2003 and migrate them
- shut down the 2003 box
what do you think?
I'd make step 3 step 1. But yeah.
SOLUTION
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Follow the steps in my post and it should go smoothly.
Will.
Will.
ASKER
Hi Will Thank you for your post!
I am a little new to the situation so I am a little confused when you said:
"Another thing, before you do any changes to the domain (raising the functional level) you need to ensure that replication is completely working before you decommission the 2003 server and test again after".
Do you mean checking replication only between the DCs that are staying (2008) or including the 2003?
and do you mean "decommissioned" as depromoted or shutdowned?
Thanks!
I am a little new to the situation so I am a little confused when you said:
"Another thing, before you do any changes to the domain (raising the functional level) you need to ensure that replication is completely working before you decommission the 2003 server and test again after".
Do you mean checking replication only between the DCs that are staying (2008) or including the 2003?
and do you mean "decommissioned" as depromoted or shutdowned?
Thanks!
The four commands he told you to issue will print log files explaining the health of your domain topology. There is no harm in running them before the demotion to understand what they'll look like when everything is healthy.
ASKER
Thank you All!