Raising Functional level of domain

[LukeC]

Im planning on removing my last 2003 DC very shortly and raising the forest functional level to 2008 R2. However, this is the first i have done this and want to make sure i get it right has anyone got any advice.
I also run Exchange 2007, previous to this there was an exchange 2003 box that ran along side the 2007 box but this died and everything continued to work fine.

Thanks

[Michael]

You should be OK, but please note you cannot reverse a Domain Functional Level.

[FN-GM]

Dont forget to raise the forest function level after you have done the domain one.

[LukeC]

Will i encounter any issues if i raise the forest and domain functional level to server 2008 R2 with server 2003 or XP workstations?

[Michael]

If the 2003 server is only a member you'll be fine. You can't up it to 2008 R2 functional if you have a 2003 DC in place.

Functional levels do not affect workstations (to my knowledge). You could still have a 2000 server box if you really needed to - not that I would recommend it!

[tmcd35]

Functional levels do not affect workstations (to my knowledge).

Not directly, but I'm pretty sure they do indirectly. Doesn't the domain functional level determine the policies available for managing domain members? For instance, Group Policy Preferences appears when you increase the domain level to 2008. For newer OS's like Windows 7, there is likely to be some policies missing at 2003 level to properly manage the OS. For instance, I believe .V2 profiles come with the 2008R2 level.

[sted]

Not directly, but I'm pretty sure they do indirectly. Doesn't the domain functional level determine the policies available for managing domain members? For instance, Group Policy Preferences appears when you increase the domain level to 2008. For newer OS's like Windows 7, there is likely to be some policies missing at 2003 level to properly manage the OS. For instance, I believe .V2 profiles come with the 2008R2 level.

im 99% sure you can use gpp on 2003 domain level as long as you have a pc that can see/edit such policies

[sukh]

From Exch side, there isn't any effect. I would clean up the dead Exch 2003 server if hasn't been done sone already.

[Michael]

You do get additional 'options' moving to 2008 R2 functional level, however you can still use GPP at 2003 functional level. I know so for a fact, as I have several setups like this.

[LukeC]

@sukh have you any advice to make sure i have cleaned up the dead exchange properly?

[sukh]

Ideally, if you can remember what has/had been done?

For e.g When the server failed, was it simply removed from the network or was it recovered and then removed gracefully from adsiedit?

Or was is simply removed from adsiedit?

I would 1st off start by running the ExchBPA and see what that moans about and then look at the config partition and see if you see any instanaces of Exch 2003?

[LukeC]

Had a look it is still seen as a server in there, from what i can remember i didnt do very much as it worked with out it there and had not noticed any preformance issue. Please can you point me in the direction of removing it, I should be able to fire it back up as it was a VM that wasnt behaving correctly after running out of disk space, i ato increase the space but still had issues. I attempted to uninstall it but was unable to due to the default mailboxes being left behind as the previous NM had done the transition. So i just stuck with the 2007 box. I hadnt be in this job long when this happened any advice is much appreciated.

[sukh]

How to remove Exchange Server 2003 from your computer


leave the admin group for 2003.