SBS 2003 Boot Camp - Forest and Domain Functional Level

Another point that I raised in the SBS 2003 Boot Camp was that of raising Forest and Domain functional levels to 2003 Native. When SBS 2003 is installed, the functional level of both the domain and the forest is set to "Windows 2000 Mixed". If you will not be adding any obsolete servers to your domain (and I'd say that would be the vast majority of people), then raising this to "Windows 2003 Native" will give you additional benefits over that of "Windows 2000" level.

The steps required, assuming you have no non-Windows 2003 Servers in your domain are as follows:

1. To raise the functional level of the domain:


1. On the Source Server, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Domains and Trust.


2. In the console pane, right-click the domain for which you want to raise the functional level, and then click Raise Domain Functional Level.


3. In Select an available domain functional level, click Windows Server 2003, click Raise, and then click OK in the warning dialog box.



2. To raise the functional level of the forest:


1. On the Source Server, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Domains and Trust.


2. In the console pane, right-click Active Directory Domains and Trusts, and then click Raise Forest Functional Level.


3. In Select an available forest functional level, click Windows Server 2003, click Raise, and then click OK in the warning dialog box.

The benefits of raising these functional levels includes a) the ability to rename the domain (more difficult, sure, with Exchange 2003 installed on the box, but it *does* make it possible), it is part of the preparation steps to migrate from SBS 2003 to SBS 2008, faster intra-site replication of AD, group nesting and the ability to convert between security groups and distribution groups.

For a more in depth look at the different functional levels, have a read of:

MS KB 322692
Daniel Petri
Daniel again!
TechNet
Enterprise Networking Planet

Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie