Raise the Forest and Domain Functional Levels in Windows Server 2008/R2

Introduction

      In Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), domain controllers can run different versions of Windows Server operating systems. The functional level of a domain or forest depends on which versions of Windows Server operating systems are running on the domain controllers in the domain or forest. The functional level of a domain or forest controls which advanced features are available in the domain or forest.

• Domain functional level. Six domain functional levels are available:
  
  Windows 2000 mixed (the default in Windows Server 2003)
  
  Windows 2000 native
  
  Windows Server 2003 interim
  
  Windows Server 2003
  
  Windows Server 2008
  
  Windows Server 2008 R2
  
  Setting the functional level for a domain enables features that affect the entire domain and that domain only. If all domain controllers in a domain are running Windows Server 2008 R2 and the functional level is set to Windows Server 2008 R2, all domain-wide features are available.

• Forest functional level. Five forest functional levels are available:
  
  Windows 2000 (the default in Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008)
  
  Windows Server 2003 interim
  
  Windows Server 2003 (the default in Windows Server 2008 R2)
  
  Windows Server 2008
  
  Windows Server 2008 R2
  
  Setting the functional level for a forest enables features across all the domains within a forest. If all domain controllers in a forest are running Windows Server 2008 R2 and the functional level is set to Windows Server 2008 R2, all forest-wide features are available.

How to Raise the Forest and Domain Functional Levels in Windows Server 2008/R2

By default, when a new Domain Controller with Windows Server 2008 / Windows Server 2008 R2 is being installed, the lowest available functional level is Windows 2000. The Default selected forest functional level is Windows Server 2003

   

When you create a new domain or a new forest, set the domain and forest functional levels to the highest values that you know your environment can support. This way, you can take advantage of as many AD DS features as possible.

If you are sure that no domain controllers that run Windows Server 2008 (or any earlier operating system) will ever be added to the domain or forest, select the Windows Server 2008 R2 functional level

To raise the functional level of the Forest and functional level of the Domain , follow the below Steps:

• Raising the Functional Level of the Forest:

1. Open Active Directory Domains and Trusts
   
   Click Start > Administrative Tools > Active Directory Domains and Trusts
   
   
   
   The Active Directory Domains and Trusts Management Console  will display the available Domains
   
   
2. Right click on the Active Directory Domains and Trusts [ ComputerName.DomainName.com ] main node , and click on Raise Forest Functional Level...
   
   
   
   
3. The current forest functional level will be displayed along with the available functional levels that you can use for your forest level .
   
   
   
   Select the forest functional level and click on Raise
   
   
   
   On the warning dialog box, confirm your choice by clicking on OK
   
   
   
   Note the following : After you set the forest functional level to a certain value, you cannot roll back or lower the forest functional level, with one exception: when you raise the forest functional level to Windows Server 2008 R2 and if Active Directory Recycle Bin is not enabled, you have the option of rolling the forest functional level back to Windows Server 2008. You can lower the forest functional level only from Windows Server 2008 R2 to Windows Server 2008, it cannot be rolled back to Windows Server 2003.
   
   
   
   The functional level raise will be successful, and the replication process will start between the Domain Controllers in the forest.
   

 

• Raising the Function Level of the Domain:
  

1. Open Active Directory Domains and Trusts
2. Right click on the Domain name, in this example : elmajdal.com , and then click on Raise Domain Functional Level...
   
   
   
   
3. You will notice that you don't need to do anything here, as you already have raised the Forest Functional Level to the highest available level which is Windows Server 2008 R2.
   You cannot set the domain functional level to a value that is lower than the forest functional level. For example, if you set the forest functional level to Windows Server 2008 R2, you can set the domain functional level only to Windows Server 2008 R2. The Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Server 2008 domain functional level values will not be available on the Set domain functional level wizard page. In addition, all domains that you subsequently add to that forest will have the Windows Server 2008 R2 domain functional level by default.
   
   
   Note the following : You can lower the domain functional level only from Windows Server 2008 R2 to Windows Server 2008. If the domain functional level is set to Windows Server 2008 R2, it cannot be rolled back, for example, to Windows Server 2003.