Adding Windows server 2003 R2 to Windows 2003 domain - question

[segil]

Hi guys,

quick question. We have a Windows 2003 network, running on two DC's. One is a Windows 2000 server SP4, the other a Windows server 2003 SP2 standard. Schema version: 30.
Also Exchange server 2003 SP2 is present.

Now we want to install a third DC and (over time) remove the Windows 2000 server DC. The third DC will run on a Windows server 2003 R2.

Question: promoting the R2 installation, will this upgrade the schema version to 31? Or is it possible to add the R2 server to the current domain, and later upgrade the schema version to 31?
The reason I ask is because I read some articles that upgrading the schema to 31 (R2) causes problems when using a Windows 2000 DC on the domain. So I want to join the R2 server, then remove the Windows 2000 server and then upgrade the schema to 31.

Hopefully someone can help me with this.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Davetoo]

Upgrade the schema. I did a long time before I even introduced the 2003R2 server into my local domain...no problems that I've found.

I'm Certifiable, not cert-ified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.