Windows Server 2003 in a Nutshell

Prepares W2K domains and forests for upgrading to WS2003 by extending the schema, updating security descriptors, and adding new directory classes and attributes.

Syntax

adprep [/forestprep /domainprep]

Options

/forestprep

Prepares a W2K forest for upgrading to a WS2003 forest

/domainprep

Prepares a W2K domain for upgrading to a WS2003 domain

Examples

Use adprep to prepare a W2K forest for upgrading to WS2003:

Apply SP2 or later to all W2K domain controllers in your forest back up schema master take schema master offline log on to schema master using an account that belongs to both the Enterprise Admins and Schema Admins groups open command prompt change to \I386 folder on CD-ROM drive type adprep /forestprep

If adprep /forest runs without errors and nothing in the event logs indicates a problem, wait until the schema changes effected by adprep /forest replicate to all domain controllers in your forest and then upgrade your domains as follows :

Log on to infrastructure for a domain using an account that belongs to either the Domain Admins or Enterprise Admins group insert WS2003 product CD change to \I386 folder on CD-ROM drive adprep /domainprep wait for effect of this command to replicate to other domain controllers in the domain upgrade other domain controllers in the domain to WS2003 as desired repeat process for other domains in the forest

Notes

• This command-line tool can be found in the \I386 folder on the WS2003 product CD. Note that adprep depends on several files in this directory, so you can't simply pull it off the CD and run it by itself.

• Check the adprep log files in \System32\Debug\Adprep\Logs each time you run adprep .

• For information about schema master, infrastructure master, and other FSMO roles, see Domain Controller in Chapter 4.

• Replication of schema changes within a site takes only 15 minutes, but if your enterprise has multiple sites, it may take longer. It may be best to wait a day or so after each use of adprep to ensure the effects have been replicated properly. If you try running adprep /domainprep without waiting long enough after running adprep /forestprep , a warning message indicates that the replication process has not finished. And if you try upgrading a W2K domain controller to WS2003 after running adprep /domainprep in the domain, a similar warning message is displayed.

• Once you prepare your forests and domains by running adprep , the remaining domain controllers can continue running W2K as long as you like until you decide to upgrade them.

• Consider installing SP3 on your W2K domain controllers before using adprep . If W2K domain controllers are running SP3, they are easier to administer remotely from Windows XP Professional or WS2003 machines using the WS2003 Administration Tools Pack. Also consider adding any post-SP3 hot fixes to your WS2003 SP3 domain controllers prior to running adprep , and search the Knowledge Base on support.microsoft.com for any issues regarding adprep before using it, especially if you have any Exchange 2000 servers in your forest.

See Also

Active Directory, Domain, Domain Controller, Forest, Installation