2008 R2 FSMO Role Distribution

Hello All,

We are running 2003 DC's at a 2003 Domain Functional level with a single
parent and child domain (All DC's are GC's) - and are working to introduce
2008 R2 DC's but stay at the existing 2003 Domain functional level - with the
idea that we will eventually raise the level to 08.

I have already tested all the procedures and introduced an 08 R2 DC into the
env - I am now at the point where I want to migrate the FSMO roles to the new
DC - can someone please elaborate on the best practice for this in terms of
where the roles should live? In 2000/2003, there were pretty solid rules for
these roles and we currently have them split between (2) 2003 DC's.

Should I migrate the roles to a single 08 R2 DC or add a second 08 R2 DC and
split the roles (like in 2000/2003) and then also leverage DNS, etc on the 2
DC's?

I have been unable to find any solid documentation stating one way or the
other.

Thanks in advance!!!!

On 27.05.2010 22:43, da crusher wrote:
> We are running 2003 DC's at a 2003 Domain Functional level with a single
> parent and child domain (All DC's are GC's) - and are working to introduce
> 2008 R2 DC's but stay at the existing 2003 Domain functional level - with the
> idea that we will eventually raise the level to 08.
>
> I have already tested all the procedures and introduced an 08 R2 DC into the
> env - I am now at the point where I want to migrate the FSMO roles to the new
> DC - can someone please elaborate on the best practice for this in terms of
> where the roles should live? In 2000/2003, there were pretty solid rules for
> these roles and we currently have them split between (2) 2003 DC's.


In general, the best practice hasn't change between the OS versions. If
your setup is quite simple and there isn't much load on the boxes, I'd
keep the roles together on one DC. If you need to seperate the roles,
I'd probably keep PDC and RID on one box and the rest on another. The IM
role should go on a non-GC box -- you know that, right?

Cheers,
Florian

Thank you Florian for the reply. I thought it was this way, but wanted to
make sure since there is no real supporting documentation..

"Florian Frommherz [MVP]" wrote:

> On 27.05.2010 22:43, da crusher wrote:
> > We are running 2003 DC's at a 2003 Domain Functional level with a single
> > parent and child domain (All DC's are GC's) - and are working to introduce
> > 2008 R2 DC's but stay at the existing 2003 Domain functional level - with the
> > idea that we will eventually raise the level to 08.
> >
> > I have already tested all the procedures and introduced an 08 R2 DC into the
> > env - I am now at the point where I want to migrate the FSMO roles to the new
> > DC - can someone please elaborate on the best practice for this in terms of
> > where the roles should live? In 2000/2003, there were pretty solid rules for
> > these roles and we currently have them split between (2) 2003 DC's.
>
>
> In general, the best practice hasn't change between the OS versions. If
> your setup is quite simple and there isn't much load on the boxes, I'd
> keep the roles together on one DC. If you need to seperate the roles,
> I'd probably keep PDC and RID on one box and the rest on another. The IM
> role should go on a non-GC box -- you know that, right?
>
> Cheers,
> Florian
> .
>

Hello da,

This article still applies:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223346/en-us

I have reported in 12/2009 on connect the article for reviewing and updating.
https://connect.microsoft.com/site47...in-controllers

Unfortunal until now it is still on set "active" without additional comments.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm


> Hello All,
>
> We are running 2003 DC's at a 2003 Domain Functional level with a
> single parent and child domain (All DC's are GC's) - and are working
> to introduce 2008 R2 DC's but stay at the existing 2003 Domain
> functional level - with the idea that we will eventually raise the
> level to 08.
>
> I have already tested all the procedures and introduced an 08 R2 DC
> into the env - I am now at the point where I want to migrate the FSMO
> roles to the new DC - can someone please elaborate on the best
> practice for this in terms of where the roles should live? In
> 2000/2003, there were pretty solid rules for these roles and we
> currently have them split between (2) 2003 DC's.
>
> Should I migrate the roles to a single 08 R2 DC or add a second 08 R2
> DC and split the roles (like in 2000/2003) and then also leverage DNS,
> etc on the 2 DC's?
>
> I have been unable to find any solid documentation stating one way or
> the other.
>
> Thanks in advance!!!!
>

Thank you for the reply Meinolf.

I have been referencing your blog for much of this info... Thanks for that
- VERY helpful!!!

"Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]" wrote:

> Hello da,
>
> This article still applies:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223346/en-us
>
> I have reported in 12/2009 on connect the article for reviewing and updating.
> https://connect.microsoft.com/site47...in-controllers
>
> Unfortunal until now it is still on set "active" without additional comments.
>
> Best regards
>
> Meinolf Weber
> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
> no rights.
> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>
>
> > Hello All,
> >
> > We are running 2003 DC's at a 2003 Domain Functional level with a
> > single parent and child domain (All DC's are GC's) - and are working
> > to introduce 2008 R2 DC's but stay at the existing 2003 Domain
> > functional level - with the idea that we will eventually raise the
> > level to 08.
> >
> > I have already tested all the procedures and introduced an 08 R2 DC
> > into the env - I am now at the point where I want to migrate the FSMO
> > roles to the new DC - can someone please elaborate on the best
> > practice for this in terms of where the roles should live? In
> > 2000/2003, there were pretty solid rules for these roles and we
> > currently have them split between (2) 2003 DC's.
> >
> > Should I migrate the roles to a single 08 R2 DC or add a second 08 R2
> > DC and split the roles (like in 2000/2003) and then also leverage DNS,
> > etc on the 2 DC's?
> >
> > I have been unable to find any solid documentation stating one way or
> > the other.
> >
> > Thanks in advance!!!!
> >
>
>
> .
>

Hello da,

Thank you very much, nice to hear. :-)

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm


> Thank you for the reply Meinolf.
>
> I have been referencing your blog for much of this info... Thanks for
> that - VERY helpful!!!
>
> "Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]" wrote:
>
>> Hello da,
>>
>> This article still applies:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223346/en-us
>> I have reported in 12/2009 on connect the article for reviewing and
>> updating.
>>
>> https://connect.microsoft.com/site47...517650/article
>> -update-from-fsmo-placement-and-optimization-on-active-directory-doma
>> in-controllers
>>
>> Unfortunal until now it is still on set "active" without additional
>> comments.
>>
>> Best regards
>>
>> Meinolf Weber
>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>> confers
>> no rights.
>> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
>> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>>> Hello All,
>>>
>>> We are running 2003 DC's at a 2003 Domain Functional level with a
>>> single parent and child domain (All DC's are GC's) - and are working
>>> to introduce 2008 R2 DC's but stay at the existing 2003 Domain
>>> functional level - with the idea that we will eventually raise the
>>> level to 08.
>>>
>>> I have already tested all the procedures and introduced an 08 R2 DC
>>> into the env - I am now at the point where I want to migrate the
>>> FSMO roles to the new DC - can someone please elaborate on the best
>>> practice for this in terms of where the roles should live? In
>>> 2000/2003, there were pretty solid rules for these roles and we
>>> currently have them split between (2) 2003 DC's.
>>>
>>> Should I migrate the roles to a single 08 R2 DC or add a second 08
>>> R2 DC and split the roles (like in 2000/2003) and then also leverage
>>> DNS, etc on the 2 DC's?
>>>
>>> I have been unable to find any solid documentation stating one way
>>> or the other.
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance!!!!
>>>
>> .
>>