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David Overton's Blog » Can Windows Server 2003 R2 be added to a SBS 2003 SP1 (i.e. non-R2) domain - Yes
Can Windows Server 2003 R2 be added to a SBS 2003 SP1 (i.e. non-R2) domain - Yes

[updated 14:52 27th June 2007]

I got this question yesterday and while I will not name names, I felt this should go public.  It is from a customer who I believe has been mis-informed by a partner about SBS 2003, SBS 2003 R2 and Windows Server 2003 R2.

Here is the mail I got:

To: David Overton

I have a question concerning compatibility. I have a SBS 2003 with SP1 as my domain controller.... I am about to migrate to a new ERP package and have purchased 2 additional Windows Server 2003 R2 servers from XXXXXXXXXX. I have been told the new servers will not be able to join the Domain and I must upgrade my SBS 2003 to SBS 2003 R2. Is that true??

Here is my reply

You have been mis-informed.  Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 r2 interoperate without any difficulty.  If you are trying to use a specific R2 feature such as remote printer management or FSRM then you might have to upgrade, but joining the domain is not a problem.  Also, SBS 2003 R2 enables you to get some extra benefits from your CALs with regard to licensing additional SQL 2005 WG Edition and Exchange 2003 Standard servers.

Thanks

David

Think of this as feedback for company XXXXXXXXX - Windows Server 2003 & Windows Server 2003 R2 work together just fine in a domain, as does Windows Server 2000 and if you really want to push NT4 (OK, so NT4 is ugly).

While I have stated that you have to only worry if you are using an R2 specific feature, if you have Active Directory in your domain then you will need to do a schema update IF your R2 boxes are to become DCs in the domain.

It is worth saying that at http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/5022eea0-54bc-422f-b98b-ddb836c8ee851033.mspx?mfr=true it states:

Update the Active Directory schema on domain controllers. In Windows Server 2003 Active Directory networks, you will need to update the Active Directory schema before:

•

Installing Windows Server 2003 R2 on a domain controller.

•

Configuring a Windows Server 2003 R2 server to be a domain controller by using the Active Directory Installation Wizard (Dcpromo.exe).

To update the schema, on the schema master domain controller, insert Disc 2 and open the command prompt. Then, change to the Cmpnents\R2\Adprep folder of Disc 2, and type: adprep.exe /forestprep

 

ttfn

David

Posted Wed, Jun 27 2007 10:03 AM by David Overton
Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Sean Gallagher wrote re: Can Windows Server 2003 R2 be added to a SBS 2003 SP1 (i.e. non-R2) domain - Yes
on Mon, Jul 30 2007 12:31 PM

Thanks again for your site. I was having exactly the same issue. All the articles tell you to run adprep /forestprep but they don't make it clear that you must run it from Windoes Server R2 CD 2 in order to upgrade the schema for v30 to v31. I was baffled because the SBS installation automatically preps the AD.

David Overton wrote re: Can Windows Server 2003 R2 be added to a SBS 2003 SP1 (i.e. non-R2) domain - Yes
on Mon, Jul 30 2007 1:22 PM

Sean,

no worries - the key confusion is that SBS R2 is based on Windows Server 2003 SP1, not Windows Server 2003 R2.  It is the R2 release of SBS, not of Windows.

ttfn

David

sean gallagher wrote re: Can Windows Server 2003 R2 be added to a SBS 2003 SP1 (i.e. non-R2) domain - Yes
on Mon, Jul 30 2007 3:38 PM

Although I got the ADC installed it seems to have adversely affected my AD. My intranet has failed and when i try and run SBS setup to attempt a repair (whilst logged on as Administrator) it tells me that I must be a member of groups such as domain admins etc? any ideas?

David Overton wrote re: Can Windows Server 2003 R2 be added to a SBS 2003 SP1 (i.e. non-R2) domain - Yes
on Mon, Jul 30 2007 4:34 PM

Sean,

If your SBS box is already up and running then runnign the adprep (you might need to do /domain and /forest) and then put in your windows server r2 server as a domain member, then run dcpromo.  It has to be in the same domain and SBS cannot stop being your DC, Gc or root of the domain.  Ideally DNS should be integrated into AD and should still sit on the SBS box (imho).

If you have a Windows Server R2 domain and wish to add SBS to it, then simply follow the documentation on adding SBS to an existing domain.

If your intranet is failing it might suggest a DNS issue.  Failing that, a call to the nice guys who do SBS support might be worth while.

thanks

David

sean gallagher wrote re: Can Windows Server 2003 R2 be added to a SBS 2003 SP1 (i.e. non-R2) domain - Yes
on Mon, Jul 30 2007 6:58 PM

The AD seemed to sort itself out after a while but DNS is still failing in some way - Can't work out why! I installed DNS on the ADC as redundancy in case of an SBS failure. I am waiting for a call back from the nice guys who do SBS support!! Thanks

Sean

Jonny T wrote re: Can Windows Server 2003 R2 be added to a SBS 2003 SP1 (i.e. non-R2) domain - Yes
on Fri, Oct 5 2007 2:40 PM

Hey thanks alot guys..... I've been searching all over the internet on how to fix this. I've lost hours of sleep trying to figure out how to bring my beautiful brand new W2K3 R2 baby into our network and was having the hardest time ever. How simple:

Use Disk 2 to run adprep /forestprep

Presto Chango worked like a champ!

Thanks again

Mick Alvey wrote re: Can Windows Server 2003 R2 be added to a SBS 2003 SP1 (i.e. non-R2) domain - Yes
on Sat, Nov 10 2007 12:50 AM

DAvid - another SBS question.. I have a situation where there is an existing SBS server 2003 SP1 domain - we are commissioning a remote office to do a big project... I plan on VPN connecting the offices. Questions is what do i do in the remote office?

Get Server 2003 'R"2 standard and then can I join the exisaintg SBS 2003 domain in the main office - or is there a possiblilty of setting up a new domain server 2003 R2 in the remote office and then haveing the main office join the new windows domain.? main office runs SBS terminal servies and remote connections as well?

Sean H wrote re: Can Windows Server 2003 R2 be added to a SBS 2003 SP1 (i.e. non-R2) domain - Yes
on Tue, Feb 22 2011 9:46 PM

If an 2003 R2 server is added as a DC to an SBS2003 domain do the SBS CALs cover it?  I thought there were separate R2 CALs?

David Overton wrote re: Can Windows Server 2003 R2 be added to a SBS 2003 SP1 (i.e. non-R2) domain - Yes
on Wed, Feb 23 2011 1:27 PM

No SBS 2003 R2 CALs were produced - see blogs.msdn.com/.../644308.aspx

Thanks

David

SBS SUPPORT wrote re: Can Windows Server 2003 R2 be added to a SBS 2003 SP1 (i.e. non-R2) domain - Yes
on Tue, Jul 19 2011 9:27 PM

you can replace with server 2003 but the big problem is no able to join the other domins  

Alicia Edward wrote re: Can Windows Server 2003 R2 be added to a SBS 2003 SP1 (i.e. non-R2) domain - Yes
on Mon, Aug 22 2011 6:08 AM

oh my gosh! it was so simple to do ... oh Why did i wasted my entire week searching out this solution.thanks a lot.

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