Functional Levels question

itdaddy

Okay guys:

Domain Functional Level
Windows 2000 Native


Forest Functional Level
Windows 2000

this is what our Active Directory is set at. We have NO windows 2000 domain controllers or DNS servers that are Windows 2000.
We have a 2003 server domain controller shop. However, we do have 2 servers that are windows 2000 (yeah yeah I know)
but these are only stand alone servers only. So can I change our functional levels to a pure windows 2003/2008 level or no.
Will changing the functional level to a windows 2003 level screw the windows 2000 servers up? I don't think it will. I thought
it was only for if the domain controllers were windows 2000 and since we only have window 2003 DCs then it should be okay to raise the level.

RTmarc

Member servers do not matter. Domain controllers are the only things that are affected by the domain/forest level. My environment is native 2008 R2 for domain and forest and we have Server 2000 members.

rsutton

If you have 2003 DC's the highest functional level you can set is 2003. If you get rid of ALL 2003 DC's and roll out 2008 DC's you could raise it at that time. As mentioned, member servers have no relevance to functional levels.

itdaddy

thanks guys that is what I remember but wanted to make sure nothing got missed. thank you for your help...appreciated

-Robert
2003 here we come

powerfool

Actually, Exchange matters too. If you want to move to Exchange 2010, you will have to go to 2003 level.

Devilsbane

rsutton wrote: »

If you have 2003 DC's the highest functional level you can set is 2003. If you get rid of ALL 2003 DC's and roll out 2008 DC's you could raise it at that time. As mentioned, member servers have no relevance to functional levels.

+1 to this.

itdaddy

sweet thanks...I would love exchange 2010 maybe next year..