How to Prepare an Active Directory Forest for installation of Windows Server 2008
An Active Directory forest is a group of domain controllers that are working together to service user needs. All the members of the forest share data and update each other so that the loss of a single domain controller doesn't cause a complete failure of Active Directory or result in lost settings.
However, because the members of the forest rely on each other, you must be sure that the forest can work with all the domain controllers it supports and that the addition of a new domain controller won't cause problems.
You must prepare the forest to receive a Windows Server 2008 system because Windows Server 2008 provides additional functionality not found in previous versions of Windows. The following steps tell you how to prepare a forest to receive a Windows Server 2008 installation.
1. Log on to the machine that you have set up as the schema master as a member of the Enterprise Admins, Schema Admins, or Domain Admins group.
You must have the required permissions in order to work with the forest files and save them to another location. If you don't have the required group access, ask someone who does have the required permission to perform this task.
2. Copy the contents of the \sources\adprep folder from the Windows Server 2008 installation media to the folder used by the schema master role holder.
It's possible to use Windows Explorer to perform this task. You can also rely on command line utilities, such as these:
Make sure to verify the copy after you complete it, to ensure that all the files have copied successfully.
3. Choose Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt.
If you're working with Vista using a remote connection, make sure to right-click the Command Prompt entry and choose Run As Administrator from the context menu, or else you won't have the proper rights.
4. Use the DVD command to change directories to the folder used by the schema master role holder.
5. Type AdPrep /ForestPrep and press Enter.
The AdPrep utility prepares your system to work with Windows Server 2008.
6. If you plan to install a read-only domain controller, type AdPrep /RODCPrep and press Enter.
7. Allow the procedure to complete and the changes to replicate to the other domain controllers before you continue to Preparing a domain for installation.
The AdPrep utility is a new application that Microsoft has added to the Windows Server 2008 media. You don't find this utility supplied with older versions of Windows. Microsoft provides details about this utility at this site.
Tags: Active Directory,domain controller,adprep,robocopy
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