2003 R2 in an existing domain

I have a domain with two servers running Windows server 2003 SP1. One is
running Exchange SP2 and is not a domain controller. The other is the domain
controller. I would like to add another server. I can only buy Windows
server 2003 R2. Is there a compatibility issue with the two operating
systems and should I make the additional server a domain controller as well?

Thanks,

Rusty

Hello Rusty,

R2 is not a different version from 2003. It just has a feature pack, some
additional tools that are not included in 2003. On the first R2 disk you
have a normal 2003 install and on the second disk you have the new features
that are the R2 part. If you will not use the R2 features it is just a normal
2003 install.

Compare the Editions of Windows Server 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/win...s/compare.mspx

For redundancy/failover it is always a good idea to have 2 DC's running,
both as Global catalog and DNS server configured. And ofcourse configure
the clients for use of both DNS servers.

If you will use the additional R2 features on the domain you have to upgrade
the schema from the second installation disk with adprep /forestprep and
adprep /domainprep on the schema master (in your case the running DC because
it is the only one).


Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.

> I have a domain with two servers running Windows server 2003 SP1. One
> is running Exchange SP2 and is not a domain controller. The other is
> the domain controller. I would like to add another server. I can
> only buy Windows server 2003 R2. Is there a compatibility issue with
> the two operating systems and should I make the additional server a
> domain controller as well?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rusty
>

Thank you for the fast response.

Regards,

"Meinolf Weber" wrote:

> Hello Rusty,
>
> R2 is not a different version from 2003. It just has a feature pack, some
> additional tools that are not included in 2003. On the first R2 disk you
> have a normal 2003 install and on the second disk you have the new features
> that are the R2 part. If you will not use the R2 features it is just a normal
> 2003 install.
>
> Compare the Editions of Windows Server 2003
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/win...s/compare.mspx
>
> For redundancy/failover it is always a good idea to have 2 DC's running,
> both as Global catalog and DNS server configured. And ofcourse configure
> the clients for use of both DNS servers.
>
> If you will use the additional R2 features on the domain you have to upgrade
> the schema from the second installation disk with adprep /forestprep and
> adprep /domainprep on the schema master (in your case the running DC because
> it is the only one).
>
>
> Best regards
>
> Meinolf Weber
> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
> no rights.
>
> > I have a domain with two servers running Windows server 2003 SP1. One
> > is running Exchange SP2 and is not a domain controller. The other is
> > the domain controller. I would like to add another server. I can
> > only buy Windows server 2003 R2. Is there a compatibility issue with
> > the two operating systems and should I make the additional server a
> > domain controller as well?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Rusty
> >
>
>
>