Windows 2003 SBS and Windows 2008 Standard

[covsterlj]

Can a Windows 2003 SBS server function on a Windows 2008 Standard network?

 

[ShackDaddy]

Yes, but you have to be careful how you join the SBS Server to the network: once it is part of the Active Directory, it will need to hold the FSMO roles exclusively.

It may actually be tricky, as I've added SBS 2003 servers to existing Windows 2003 domains before, but not to Windows 2008. It will need to get a copy of the updated schema, and there may be a problem with that...but probably not.

The key is to stop the SBS Setup after the first reboot, when it is just a Windows 2003 Server, and join it as a member of the Windows 2008 domain. Then let it continue setup, and it will become a DC in the new domain. Or at least that's the rough plan.

If you already have an SBS 2003 server built, you won't be able to integrate that unless you are willing to have your users enter explicit credentials every time they connect to it.

Dave Shackelford
ThirdTier.net