Question : Upgrade from Win2003 R2 to Win 2008

Hi Guys
I would like to upgrade some servers from win 2003 R2 to Win 2008.. how to start.. and what I have to take care about it ..
I have 2 DC (master, member) + 2 Exchange 2003 (BE-FE)

any advice

Answer : Upgrade from Win2003 R2 to Win 2008

The installation of Windows 2008 into the domain is quite simple.
First you need to Adprep your 2003 Domain by running
adprep /forestprep    and
adprep /domainprep   and
adprep /gpprep

from the 2008 DVD on the Windows 2003 DC  - adprep is in the SOURCES folder on the DVD.

Once done you can run the setup program from the 2008 DVD and do an upgrade, or you can do a clean install on a new box and join the 2008 machine to the domain.

If you tale the latter route you need to assign the 2008 new computer an IP address and subnet mask on the existing network. Make sure that the preferred DNS server on new machine points to the existing DNS Server on the Domain (normally the existing domain controller)

Join the new 2008 machine to the existing domain as a member server

From the command line promote the new machine to a domain controller with the DCPROMO command from the command line Select Additional Domain Controller in an existing Domain

Once Active Directory is installed then to make the new machine a global catalog server, go to Administrative Tools, Active Directory Sites and Services, Expand, Sites, Default first site and Servers. Right click on the new server and select properties and tick the"Global Catalog" checkbox. (Global catalog is essential for logon as it needs to be queried to establish Universal Group Membership)

If necessary install DNS on the new server. Assuming that you were using Active Directory Integrated DNS on the first Domain Controller, DNS will automatically replicate to the new domain controller along with Active Directory.

If you want to transfer the FSMO roles to the 2008 machine then the process is as outlined at http://www.petri.co.il/transferring_fsmo_roles.htm

Netometer has a nice video - http://www.netometer.com/video/tutorials/windows-dc-2008-add-upgrade/index.php