Installing Distributed File System 1

[gregmuir2]

Ok, so I'm trying to install Distributed File System. The instructions say it's gotta go on domain controllers. Fair enough, got a domain controller here and at the remote location. So, both domain controllers are Server 2003, version 5.2.3790. But of course, that doesn't mean anything, no sir! My remote is Microsoft Windows Server 2003, R2, Service Pack 1. (yes, it needs an update. Going to run it tonight.) Standard Edition. My local is Server 2003, Standard Edition, Service Pack 2.

Well, I go into the add/remove windows components wizard to enable DFS as the instructions say. The R2 OS has DFS, the standard release does not. Now I check the documentation and nothing says that DFS is only available for R2 -- in fact, they even have it as far back as 2000 server. So maybe DFS is hidden under the "details" section somewhere else in R1? I checked, cannot find it anywhere.

So, can I use an R1 server with an R2 server or do they both have to be the same version? Second, can an R1 be upgraded to an R2 or do I have to do a reinstall? Third, where the heck did they put the DFS stuff in R1 anyway?

Thanks!

 

[Davetoo]

You'll want both servers to be R2...the R2 version is vastly superior to anything before it.

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

 

[gregmuir2]

Ok, very stupid question time: can 2003 R1 servers be upgraded to R2 or would it be a full reinstall? The documentation is not quite clear on this.

 

[Davetoo]

It can be upgraded. Just pop in the R2 CD and it will prompt you. You do have to purchase R2 if you don't have software assurance (yeah...thank Billy for that one huh?)

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

 

[gregmuir2]

We don't have software assurance and there's nothing left in the budget so there goes that idea. It ticks me off because the machines were purchased about 5 months before R2 was released.

 

[Davetoo]

It's a different CD key, so that's going to be an issue.

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