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Adding domain

Answered Adding domain

  • Wednesday, January 02, 2013 7:12 PM
     
     
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    Hello,

    I provide IT support to a small non-profit company. The way their Windows Server 2008 R2 has been set up is without a domain. We basically have been using it
    in "workgroup" mode. This has worked okay for the most part.  The clients are Windows Vista Home,  several are Windows 7 Home and  Windows 7 Pro. I started migration to Windows 7 Pro on all the computers (total of 16).
    After I done  updating all client computers to Pro, I want to be able to set up a domain. Can I do it with existing setup or do I need to re-install Windows Server 2008 R2?
    Please chime in with any comments or suggestions. I appreciate any help. Thank you
     

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  • Wednesday, January 02, 2013 7:20 PM
     
     
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    Better start promoting new windows server 2008 R2 as a domain controller for getting less domain issues.

    Still you want to use old Windows server 2008 R2 server make it member of domain and use it.

    Regards, Ravikumar P

     
  • Wednesday, January 02, 2013 9:54 PM
     
     
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    update the winows update and check if there is any events showing critical...

    if everything is fine..  no need to reinstall...

    do the DCpromo..

    all the best

     
  • Wednesday, January 02, 2013 10:26 PM
     
     
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     I would like to comment on these two replies. Yes, you probably can upgrade the current server, but installing a new server and immediately promoting it to a DC has a number of advantages (and extra cost, of course). You can then transfer your workgroup computers to the domain, including your current server.

      Also note that it is risky to only have one domain controller. A domain is not like a workgroup. If the workgroup server goes down, clients can continue working with only a few limitations. If your only DC goes down you are in serious trouble.

    Bill

     
  • Wednesday, January 02, 2013 10:43 PM
     
     
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    Hello Bill. Thank you for your input. I do see the risk involved, but I would need to setup Exchange server and without domain it is not possible. is that correct?

    Sam Goykhman

     
  • Thursday, January 03, 2013 6:50 PM
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    Hi Sam,


    Before we install Microsoft Exchange Server, we must prepare Active Directory and domains.


    More information:


    Exchange Server 2013 Planning and Deployment

    Exchange 2013 System Requirements

    Prepare Active Directory and Domains


    In addition, for Exchange Server related questions, it is recommended to post in Exchange Server Forums for help.


    Hope this helps.

    Jeremy Wu
    TechNet Community Support

     
  • Friday, January 04, 2013 3:51 AM
     
     
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    Hi Jeremy,

    Thank you for your suggestion.  I do have AD setup, I just don't have domain due to variety of OS on client computers. Server exchange is one of the reasons I started upgrades to Windows 7 pro. So my main question at this step is if I need to re-install Server 2008 in order to add domain.

    Sam Goykhman

     
  • Sunday, January 06, 2013 4:47 PM
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    Hi Sam,


    Thanks for your reply.


    We do not need to re-install Windows Server 2008 and we can refer to this document to add domain:


    AD DS Installation and Removal Step-by-Step Guide

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc755258(v=ws.10).aspx


    Hope this helps.

    Jeremy Wu
    TechNet Community Support