Run Server 2008 R2 as a DC in Windows 2003 domain side-by-side

[h4x0r]

Hi All,

I'm about to do the Domain Controller + DHCP and DNS role transfer from Windows Server 2003 Std. R2 SP2 into Windows Server 2008 Std. R2 SP 1, is there anything that i should be careful about ?

Here's the current AD Domain details:

Domain Functional Level: Windows 2000 Native (since there is Samba Server)

[*]ServerA: DC + 1st DNS + DHCP (this will be decommissioned) - Windows Server 2003 x86 R2 SP2

[*]ServerB: DC + 2nd DNS + All FSMO Role + Exchange Server 2007 SP1 - Windows Server 2003 x64 R2 SP2

I'm afraid if there is any incompatibilities in running Windows Server 2008 R2 with Server 2003 then I could not restore the Server A from backup image (Acronis True Image backup).

Any kind of help in how to run Server 2008 R2 as a DC in Windows 2003 domain side-by-side would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[VaKo]

Can you not raise the forest functional level at all? We have ours in Server 2008 mode along side multiple SAMBA installs, however the domain is still in 2003 mode until the last of our 2003 DC's are decommissioned on remote sites. You can run 2003 and 2008 R2 along side, you just can't use all the newer stuff in the 2008 R2 domain spec.

[h4x0r]

Can you not raise the forest functional level at all? We have ours in Server 2008 mode along side multiple SAMBA installs, however the domain is still in 2003 mode until the last of our 2003 DC's are decommissioned on remote sites. You can run 2003 and 2008 R2 along side, you just can't use all the newer stuff in the 2008 R2 domain spec.

Oh OK,

I'm afraid that If i raise the domain functional level then i wouldn't be able to access all of my important files on Samba v2.2.3 (The very old one).

[VaKo]

Old Samba + New Windows = FUBAR

Any chance you can upgrade or migrate to a newer version of Samba?

First things first, build a lab that way you can screw up.