Can I add a Windows 2003 DC to my Windows 2000 AD?

[Guest]

If I dcpromo a Windows 2003 server to a DC in my Windows 2000 domain, will it
require the domain to become 2003 at that time or can it run in Windows 2000
mode?

 

[Steve Duff [MVP]]

You can run any mix of 2000 and 2003 servers without issue. You need to run adprep /forestprep and adprep /domainprep from the 2003
CD first to upgrade the active directory schema to accomodate 2003 Server. (If you are running Exchange Server you might do a little
reading on that first.)

These schema changes need to replicate fully, and from experience I can tell you that you need to make sure (via netdiag and dcdiag)
that your domain is correctly configured and running without any errors. And of course be sure to have a full AD & system state
backup before you do anything like this.

You will have to run the domain in 2000 mixed or native mode, and so many of the feature enhancements of 2003 Server will not be
available.

This will give you some more details: http://support.microsoft.com/?id=325379 This article is for upgrading 2000 Server to 2003
Server, but the domain issues are the same either way.

Steve Duff, MCSE, MVP
Ergodic Systems, Inc.

 

[Herb Martin]

If I dcpromo a Windows 2003 server to a DC in my Windows 2000 domain, will it
require the domain to become 2003 at that time or can it run in Windows 2000
mode?

No. There are four domain modes available with Win2003 domain
controllers, two of those were available to Win2000 and remain to
support having Win2000 DCs as long as you wish.

You must "adprep" the forest and the domain, but you do not have
to adopt either of the restrictive Win2003 modes.

You may continue to freely add Win2000 or Win2003 DCs to the
domain as long as you don't (remove all Win2000 DCs and) change
the mode to such a restrictive setting.

 

[Guest]

Steve,

Thanks for the answer on this one. This helps to clear up some issues for
us. It appears that you still need to make some initial schema changes no
matter what mode you choose to run in when you add a 2003 DC to the domain.
Are you aware of any kb articles that go into more detail on just what schema
changes are made with 2003 adprep?
--
Sandy Wood
Orange County District Attorney

You can run any mix of 2000 and 2003 servers without issue. You need to run adprep /forestprep and adprep /domainprep from the 2003
CD first to upgrade the active directory schema to accomodate 2003 Server. (If you are running Exchange Server you might do a little
reading on that first.)

These schema changes need to replicate fully, and from experience I can tell you that you need to make sure (via netdiag and dcdiag)
that your domain is correctly configured and running without any errors. And of course be sure to have a full AD & system state
backup before you do anything like this.

You will have to run the domain in 2000 mixed or native mode, and so many of the feature enhancements of 2003 Server will not be
available.

This will give you some more details: http://support.microsoft.com/?id=325379 This article is for upgrading 2000 Server to 2003
Server, but the domain issues are the same either way.

Steve Duff, MCSE, MVP
Ergodic Systems, Inc.