For less complex Windows Server installations a single stage step Big Bang Migration may be suitable, however   most administrators favor a more structured phased migration in which the migration is performed in steps. In this article we will look as the necessary preparations to be done prior to commencing the migration.

Active Directory

In most instances, the Windows Server 2003/2008 installation that are to be migrated to Windows Server 2008 R2 will include one or many Active Directory domains and forests. Since Active Directory is one of the most important areas of a   network, it is subsequently one of the most important areas of focus  in the  migration process. In addition, many  of the improvements in Windows Server 2008 R2 are   related to Active Directory (see Whats New in 2008 R2 Active Directory).

The prerequisites for upgrading  to Windows Server 2008 R2 Active Directory are as below:

• The OS on the domain controllers must be  Windows Server 2003 SP2 or higher.
• The current domain functional level is Windows Server 2003 or  Windows 2000 Native. Direct upgrade is not possible from from Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 Mixed, or Windows Server 2003 interim domain functional levels.

Migrating Windows Server Domain Controllers

There are two approaches for migrating domain controllers.

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