Domain Controller Upgrade From 2003 to 2008

Preparation of the Active Directory Environment prior to installing a 2008 DC

** Assign appropriate credentials to the users who are responsible for preparing the forest and domain for an Active Directory upgrade. By default Enterprise Administrator will perform the following task

o   Run adprep to prepare 2003 Active Directory environment for 2008.  It is a good idea to verify that each of these are completed and replicated before going to the next step. All of these will run on your 2003DC.  You can use replmon or repadmin to verify replication.  Recommendation is to let set for 24 hours for each command but this might be overkill for some.
o    Adprep.exe /forestprep - to verify this go to the registry key above in the Pre-installation list and verify that the Schema version is now 44 on your 2003DC
o    Adprep.exe /domainprep
o    Adprep.exe /domainprep /gpprep.
o    Verify all changes have been made by reviewing event logs and the dcpromo.log and the dcpromoui.log.
Install AD Services on New Windows 2008 DC (DCPROMO)

o    Install AD Services
o    Install DNS Service
o    Make sure to add this server to the existing domain and not as a new DC
o    Make the new DC a Global Catalog Server in NTDS Settings in Sites and Services Admin Tool Transfer FSMO roles to New Windows 2008 DC

o    Print out a copy of this Microsoft Tech document to walk through using the schmmgmt.dll for migrating fsmo roles (Installed and registered on Fiona).  This is for a 2003 DC but the procedures are the same for 2008 -  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324801 .  Each role below should be moved to the new DC.
o    Schema Master Role
o    Domain Naming Master Role
o    RID Master/PDC Emulator/Infrastructure Master Roles
 

In-Place Upgrade:

Upgrade Steps

1.     On you Windows Server 2003 DC, insert the Windows Server 2008 DVD, and then open command prompt and run the following commands, make sure first to browse to the adprep directory inside the Windows 2008 DVD , in my case case, the F drive is the DVD Drive letter, so to browse to the adprep directory I would write the following inside cmd: cd f:\sources\adprerp

·       adprep/ forestprep

·       adprep/ domainprep

·       adprep/ rodcprep (Optional, if you plan to add a Read Only Domain Controller Later)

2.   If the Install Windows page did not auto run before the previous step, double click on your DVD drive where you have inserted the Windows Server 2008 DVD, then Click on Install now

3.   A please wait screen will be followed, then a page to decide what to do, either to go online and get the latest updates for installation or to skip going online by clicking on the Do not get the latest updates for installation option

I will perform the updates later, so for the purpose of this article, I will click on Do not get the latest updates for installation

4.   Enter the product key, click Next

5.   Accept the license terms and click on Next

6.   What we need to do is to upgrade our server, so click on the Upgrade option

7.   The compatibility report will be displayed telling you what hardware might not function once upgrade is completed , also to check with software vendors to check if their software are compatible with Windows Server 2008. click Next

8.   Upgrade is now in process

9.   The Server will be restarted automatically several times, the Upgrade process will continue with the remaining operations:

o   Expanding Files

o   Installing Features and updates

o   Completing Upgrade

After multiple restarts, the Upgrade process will be completed and you will be able to start using your Windows Server 2008.