Before upgrading a domain controller running Windows 2000 to Windows Server 2003, or installing Active Directory on the first domain controller running Windows Server 2003, ensure that your server, your forest, and your domain are ready. This process involves checking the upgrade compatibility of your server, preparing the forest, and preparing the domain, all of which can be accomplished using command-line tools.
To check the upgrade compatibility of the server and to copy any updated Setup files, run the winnt32 command, using the winnt32 /checkupgradeonly command. For more information about the Winnt32 command, see Winnt32.
To prepare the forest, run the adprep command on the schema operations master, using the adprep /forestprep command. Running adprep on the schema master will update the schema, which will in turn replicate to all of the other domain controllers in the forest. The time it takes to replicate these changes will vary, depending on the replication schedule for your organization.
After the changes made by adprep /forestprep have replicated to the infrastructure operations master, you are ready to prepare the domain. To prepare the domain, run adprep on the infrastructure operations master, this time using the adprep /domainprep command.
The Adprep command-line tool is available from the I386 directory on the operating system installation CD. For information about how to upgrade a Windows 2000 domain, see To prepare for upgrades in a domain containing Windows 2000 domain controllers.
Important
For more information about operation master roles, see Operations master roles.