Introduce a Windows Server 2003-Based Member Server

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Before you begin the domain upgrade process, introduce a Windows Server 2003–based member server into your environment. Installing Active Directory on a Windows Server 2003–based member server facilitates the domain upgrade process by allowing all existing services to run uninterrupted while you are upgrading to Windows Server 2003 Active Directory.

You can introduce the member server to any domain in the forest; however, if your forest root domain is a dedicated root, it is recommended that you introduce the member server into the forest root domain. Placing the member server into a dedicated root domain has the lowest impact on your environment because users generally do not log on to a dedicated forest root domain; therefore, user authentications are minimal.

After you prepare the Windows 2000 forest and domain by using the Active Directory Preparation tool, install Active Directory on the member server, creating an additional domain controller in the existing domain. The Windows Server 2003–based member server will become the first Windows Server 2003–based domain controller in the forest.