Windows Server 2008 Backup Dc

[sbertram]

Hi i have a Windows 2003 network and i just got a Windows 2008 box. I like to make the Windows 2008 box a member server/backup DC what every term it is called in server 2008. How do i get this to work with a server 2003 domain and server 2003 DC?

Thanks

[mmthomas]

Essentially you are upgrading your active directory from 2003 to 2008. That's the only way to get a 2008 domain controller working in your 2003 domain. Without doing all of the upgrade steps for AD, your 2008 server can only be a member server and not a DC. Take a look at this page and follow the steps for "transition." It's not a minor task like adding a second 2003 DC would be.

[sbertram]

Essentially you are upgrading your active directory from 2003 to 2008. That's the only way to get a 2008 domain controller working in your 2003 domain. Without doing all of the upgrade steps for AD, your 2008 server can only be a member server and not a DC. Take a look at this page and follow the steps for "transition." It's not a minor task like adding a second 2003 DC would be.

 

 

Hi Matt, i want to stay at a server 2003 domain but use the server 2008 box as a member server. That way if the DC 2003 box dies then 2008 can run Activite Directory

Thanks

[mmthomas]

If you want the 2008 server to be a backup domain controller, there is no choice but to go through all of the hassle of upgrading the domain. If you want the 2008 server to only be a member server, then you don't need to do anything because there will be no active directory components on the 2008 server. But if the 2008 server is a member server, and the 2003 DC dies, then you will be creating your domain from scratch on the 2008 server. Unfortunately, there is not an option for "Make my 2008 server a domain controller on the 2003 domain without upgrading the active directory structure to 2008."

[sbertram]

Hi Matt so the 2008 can not run at the 2003 domain level if the server 2003 boxes dies?

Thanks

[mmthomas]

Right -- a 2008 server can only be a domain controller on a domain that has had the 2008 active directory updates done.

[sbertram]

Ok

Thanks