Cant get external trust established

[natesin]

We have recently went through a merger. Of course there were 2 seperate domains prior to the merger meaning that there is 2 seperate forests (MCHI.LAN and DOMAIN.COM). The details are as folows:

1. MCHI.LAN
forest functioning level: 2000
domain functioning level: 2003

2. DOMAIN.COM
empty root domain
forest functioning level: 2000
domain functioning level: 2003

3. MCHI.DOMAIN.COM
forest functioning level: 2000
domain functioning level: 2000 mixed

We are using MCHI-ADROOT.DOMAIN.COM as an empty root domain controller, which was created from a remote site. this is also the DNS server and has a secondary MCHI.LAN zone on it.

MCHI-DC1.MCHI.DOMAIN.COM is the domain controller for the MCHI.DOMAIN.COM domain.

FS1.MCHI.LAN is the domain controller for MCHI.LAN. It is also a DNS server with DOMAIN.COM as a secondary.

All domain cotroller and machines can resolve names to the other.

We want to establish a trust between MCHI.LAN and MCHI.DOMAIN.COM so we can migrate in the future. No matter what type of trust I try to establish, I get the same error:

Cannot Continue

The trust relationship cannot be created because the following error occurred:

The operation failed. The error is: This operation can not be performed on the current domain.

I've searched for a specific answer on the error and have not bee successful in findin one.

Any help or input would be greatly appreciate!

TIA


Natesin...

I am Nate, for I have sinned.

 

[Larsdemo]

Creating a forest trust requires the forest to be at Windows 2003 forest functional level.

regards lars

http://mcpmag.com/columns/article.asp?EditorialsID=593

Network admin for worldwide freight forwarders company.
mcp mcsa\: Messaging mcse -2003

 

[natesin]

Larsdemo,

Thanks for your input. I was thinkig that the 2003 forest trust was the issue. Right before I get the error described originally, it identifies the trus as being "external". Even though it is external; Does this mean that I will not be able to get this to work?

Is there any way I can get this to work?

Thanks.

Natesin...

I am Nate, for I have sinned.