Everything I'm able to find about adding a new 2008 server into an existing 2003 AD talks about upgrading and cleanly transferring FSMO roles onto the newest OS in the domain/forest. I understand the schema may have to be extended, but is this a requirement?
I just want a local site DC/DNS server, without having to install Server 2003. An upgrade/replacement is due for the other DCs, but not on my timeline. That will be maybe Q2 or Q3...and I'm looking at this week for getting DC/DNS at this site.
My goal is to run DHCP/DNS/AD together, so our desktops at this site will have up-to-date DNS entries for everyone in the domain. I'm trying to wean everyone (especially support personnel) off of IP addresses.
Particulars:
- domain/forest functional levels are Windows Server 2003
- each other site has 2 DCs @ 2003, and are OK handling the loads
- my location is not data-center quality yet, so I don't want FSMO roles on a single server here
- Exchange 2003 servers (upgrades t/k with Active Directory in Q?)
- replication will happen over metro-area network (100Mbps)
- coincides with LAN re-numbering, so need DHCP/DNS updates to be decently fast
- second server at this site will be rolled out in the near future for DHCP redundancy (and AD/DNS)
To be clear, I am not a data center like other locations. So, I don't want roles transferred here, nor have functionality negatively impacted if/when my single server goes down for any reason.