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BLAKE
Asked: 2010-07-20 08:51:06 +0800 CST

Server 2003 R2 Schema Update

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I have some questions about updating our Active Directory Schema.

Right now We have 4 Domain Controllers across 3 sites. They are all running Windows Server 2003 with SP1. None of them are R2. They are all running old hardware and need to be replaced. I would like to replace them all with virtual machines. I tried to dcpromo a new VM running Server 2003 R2 and it told me to do the Schema update first. This is where I have some questions.

First: All of my current DC's have retail copies of Windows installed. All of the installation media that I have is OEM. Can I run the ADPrep utility from the OEM Media on a server with Retail Media installed?

Second: Can I run the Schema update from a SP1 DC or does it need to have SP2 installed? I don't mind doing all the updates on the current DC's but I since they will all be replaced, it seems kindof like a waste of time (there are 200+ updates per server.)

Last: I have read this question about Schema update safety, but I don't understand how you can backup and safely restore AD if the update goes wrong. Is the process to reboot each DC into AD Restore Mode and restore them one at a time if the update fails?

Thanks for all your help.

windows active-directory schema

2 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    1) Schema updates are not related to licensing in any way, so, yes, you can run a schema update from ANY Windows installation media (probably excluding SBS, but that's a completely different product).

    2) No, SP2 is not a prerequisite for this schema update.

    3) No, in order to fully restore AD from a backup, you only need to restart a single DC in DSRM and perform an authoritative restore; then standard AD replication will take care of overwriting all other DC's copies of the directory database with the one you restored (that's why it's called "authoritative").

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  2. The procedure is explained here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc773360%28WS.10%29.aspx

    You simply use adprep from the Win2003R2 CD (disk 2) and run it in your existing environment. You need to do this before you promote your first Win2003R2 Domain Controller.

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