Upgrading of Windows 2003 Domain Controller to 2008 Domain Controller

You might be thinking of upgrading your domain controllers to Windows 2008 Domain Controllers. In that regard this article can help you. It will guide you to the steps that are required.

When it comes to upgrading your servers to Windows 2008 environment it takes lot planning and support to achieve this, but with the help of this article it can be achieved more easily.

We are going to assume that your upgrade will be from Windows 2003 environment.

Note-When upgrading please make sure your functional level should be at least Windows 2003.

Copy ADPREP from 2008 DVD to your server's hard disk and then run adprep/forest prep and adprep/domainprep

After copying ADPREP folder to server harddrive, follow the below steps as per screenshot

As per above, go to the path where you have kept those files.

Type the above command for forestprep as indicated in the screenshot above.

The above screenshot will be the warning message when you run forestprep.

You will receive the above confirmation that adprep successfully completed.

Now the time to run domain prep as indicated below as indicated below.

As per below dialog box you will receive the confirmation, close the cmd prompt.

Than After the above steps login to server which has to be upgraded and perform the below steps.

1. Insert Windows 2008 DVD
2. Run Setup
3. Select Install Now
4. Select the version of Windows 2008 that needs to be installed
5. Accept license agreement
6. Now select upgrade option to start the process

That's it, you have just upgraded your AD domain server.