DFS on Server 2003 SP1 and Server 2003 R2

[stevenriz]

Can these two versions of the OS replicate each other or does this present a problem? I need to have both these servers replicating? If not, will this help? I fould this toolkit that seems to be what I'm looking for.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...78-8BE1-4E81-B3BE-4E7AC4F0912D&displaylang=en

thanks!!

 

[PScottC]

RC2 and 2003 SP1 are basically synonymous. RC2 is simply the OS bundled with SP1, plus an extra disk of optional software that doesn't have to be installed.

So the simple answer to your question is yes, they are compatible.

As to replicating DFS, it depends on how you're building out your DFS tree. You're not "required" to create replicas.

PSC

Governments and corporations need people like you and me. We are samurai. The keyboard cowboys. And all those other people out there who have no idea what's going on are the cattle. Mooo! --Mr. The Plague, from the movie "Hackers

 

[stevenriz]

ok thank you. This was a request from a peer. Now he is telling me that DFS isn't even installed. I did a little research stating that by default DFS is not enabled on SP1 so we thnk we need to figure out now to enable it. Must be something in add/remove or services.

 

[edpatterson]

I think that PScottC might have misread your question, whilst RC2 and SP1 are basically synonymous, SP1 and R2 are not.

I had to purchase updates for my original 2003 SP1 servers to get them to R2 level for DFS to work.

Worth every penny.

 

[stevenriz]

what a pain. Are these updates full release levels of the OS? This server cannot be messed up and would create a hassle if it was down for any length of time.

Is that link above in my initial post the download you are speaking of? If not, what was the purchase you had to make and how was the installation? Smooth?

 

[edpatterson]

Personally, I see the R2 release as a way to generate income.

If you purchase 2003 right now you will get R2. I do not know how far back they will go for free upgrades.

I purchased upgrades for 50 servers, the installation was painless, basically run adprep and install the features you want.

Ed

 

[stevenriz]

ok thanks. I didn't mean RC2 early on, I meant R2 sorry for any confusion. anyway, we are just reading this now in Windows Help....

The servers that will participate in DFS Replication must run a Windows Server 2003 R2 operating system. After you install Windows Server 2003 R2, you must install the DFS Replication service on each server that will take part in replication, and you must install the DFS Management snap-in on one server to manage replication.

So it looks like we are required to install R2 which we do not want to do... any other options you can think of??
steve

 

[Davetoo]

The "upgrade" to R2 is seamless, and if I remember correctly, didn't even require a reboot of the server...I may be wrong, it's been a few months since I upgraded mine. In any case, the worse case should simply be a reboot of the server...just schedule it ahead of time along with security updates and you should be fine.

I'm Certifiable, not cert-ified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.
The poster formerly known as lander215

 

[stevenriz]

it will be tough convincing the upgrade. So it is true that it cannot be done? I read differently all over the internet but when we go to do it, we see this message. strange.