Raising the domain functional level from W2K3 Interim

Our domain is running at the "Windows Server 2003 interim" level. If I
understand correctly, this is pretty much the same as "mixed mode" in that
it supports NT controllers and reduces some AD functionality. I would
like to raise the functional level to "Windows Server 2003" and thus gain
the missing functionality.

All our servers are W2K3. All our clients are XP-SP3, Vista or Windows 7.
We have one subnet, 2 DCs, 3 member servers and one ISA Server firewall.

I'm guessing that raising the functional level should work without problems
but I'm concerned that something might stop working. Is there anything
I should be watching out for?

--
Michael

Hello Michael,

The functional levels rely on the DCs OS version, so if you're DCs are all
Windows server 2008 it will be fine.

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
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> Our domain is running at the "Windows Server 2003 interim" level. If
> I understand correctly, this is pretty much the same as "mixed mode"
> in that it supports NT controllers and reduces some AD functionality.
> I would like to raise the functional level to "Windows Server 2003"
> and thus gain the missing functionality.
>
> All our servers are W2K3. All our clients are XP-SP3, Vista or
> Windows 7. We have one subnet, 2 DCs, 3 member servers and one ISA
> Server firewall.
>
> I'm guessing that raising the functional level should work without
> problems
> but I'm concerned that something might stop working. Is there
> anything
> I should be watching out for?

"Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]" <meiweb@(nospam)gmx.de> wrote:-
> Hello Michael,
>
> The functional levels rely on the DCs OS version, so if you're DCs are all
> Windows server 2008 it will be fine.

I am guessing '2008' is a typo? They're all 2K3 so as I understand it, the
2K3 functional level is the one I should go for.

Am I right in thinking that the 'Interim' mode is basically the Server 2003
mode
with some functions disabled because NT can't handle them properly? And all
that
happens when you up the functional level is that these functions stop being
disabled?

--
Michael

"Santhosh Sivarajan" <> wrote in
message news:182207FB-6E83-4C39-A416-...
> If you have or will have any domain controllers running Windows NT 4.0 and
> earlier or Windows 2000, then do not raise the forest functional level to
> Windows Server 2003. Once the forest functional level has been set to
> Windows Server 2003, it cannot be changed back to Windows 2000. You can
> read more info on following link:
>
> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...8WS.10%29.aspx

Thanks for that: based on this article, raising the functional level to
Windows Server 2003 will add some functionality and drop other
functionality--mainly, as far as I can see, support for NT 4.0, Win95
and Win98, none of which I need. Is there any other functionality
that gets dropped that I might unknowingly need?

I suspect the answer is No and that I'm being a bit paranoid...

--
Michael

Hello Michael,

Yes, sorry for the typo.

Interim is available for direct upgrading to Windows server 2003 from NT4.
It has excluded Windows server 2000 DCs and also Windows server 2008 and
Windows server 2008 R2 DCs. You cannot compare AD and functional levels with
NT4 domains. They are complete different technologies.

And with all DCs on Windows server 2003, yes you can saely switch to Windows
server 2003 functional levels.

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


> "Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]" <meiweb@(nospam)gmx.de> wrote:-
>
>> Hello Michael,
>>
>> The functional levels rely on the DCs OS version, so if you're DCs
>> are all Windows server 2008 it will be fine.
>>
> I am guessing '2008' is a typo? They're all 2K3 so as I understand
> it, the 2K3 functional level is the one I should go for.
>
> Am I right in thinking that the 'Interim' mode is basically the Server
> 2003
> mode
> with some functions disabled because NT can't handle them properly?
> And all
> that
> happens when you up the functional level is that these functions stop
> being
> disabled