rtfm?

It’s a long weekend – so fun with servers.

I wanted to replace the Windows 2003 server that hosts my Active Directory and Kerberos pieces – with a newer server running pretty much the same. I ended up using Windows 2003 R2.

Foolishly I assumed that ‘Windows 2003 R2’ == ‘Windows 2003 SP1’ and a few features. Nope.

Classic case of rtfm.

For those that want to do this – make sure you update the Active Directory Schema on the Windows 2003 servers before running dcpromo on the 2003 R2 server. Otherwise you’ll not get anywhere fast – and there is not a lot documented.

Here’s my find:

Update the Active Directory schema on domain controllers. In Windows Server 2003 Active Directory networks, you will need to update the Active Directory schema before:

•	Installing Windows Server 2003 R2 on a domain controller.
•	Configuring a Windows Server 2003 R2 server to be a domain controller by using the Active Directory Installation Wizard (Dcpromo.exe).

To update the schema, on the schema master domain controller, insert Disc 2 and open the command prompt. Then, change to the CmpnentsR2Adprep folder of Disc 2, and type: adprep.exe /forestprep

Right there in the docs. RTFM as I said.