New Server coming... how should I configure it?!

[adamchapman]

Hi Guys,

 

Here's the position I'm in..

 

Current domain is running 2003 Standard R2, 2000 functional level.

 

I'm having a new server delivered in the next week or so, which will replace the main file server.

 

I'm also trying to merge 2 domains 'Curriculum.local' and 'Admin.curriculum.local' eventually to create one domain called 'schoolname' for ease of management etc.

 

My Idea is to create a new 2008 R2 domain 'schoolname' on the new server which will also be the main file server for curriculum and admin domains. Then setup a trust between the forests and gradually move the admin and curriculum domain users and machines onto the new 'schoolname' domain.

 

In the meantime, can anyone see any problems with the file server being on a different forest to the user's login domain so long as there is a trust in place with universal security groups?

 

Any advice gratefully recieved... is there a better way of doing this??

[featured_spectre]

I tried the domain trust with 2008R2...it works, but not so well compared to 2003R2 in terms of compatibility, because 2003R2 doesnt see 2008R2 very well. However it DOES work, but takes alot of fiddling.

[adamchapman]

thanks. I'm hoping it will be a temporary thing until Summer when I can do it properly.

I wondered if it would help if I extended to 2003 schema to 2008

 

I just don't see the point in setting this new server up on the old domain for a few months knowing that I will have to change it all in a few months!

[MatthewL]

Don't forget to move your clients over to the new domain name because once you switch it off they won't be able to logon!!