Windows 2008 R2 First Quick Look

I just finished installing Win08-R2 and without losing much time, I have decided to blog about it. The very first thing needs to get done is some schema updates before introducing the R2 DC into existing environment. The updates need to run from another server and the adprep.exe is in the setup CD came with R2 installation CD as shown below. Assuming your CD room is D drive, fallow the below path to get started.

• D:\support\adprep>adprep32.exe /ForestPrep
  
• D:\support\adprep>adprep32.exe /DomainPrep
  

Before running adprep, all Windows 2000 Active Directory Domain Controllers in the forest should be upgraded to Windows 2 Service Pack 4 (SP4) or later. [User Action] If ALL your existing Windows 2000 Active Directory Domain Controllers meet this requirement, type C and then press ENTER continue. Otherwise, type any other key and press ENTER to quit. c Opened Connection to VMDC1 SSPI Bind succeeded Current Schema Version is 44 Upgrading schema to version 46 Verifying file signature Connecting to "VMDC1" Logging in as current user using SSPI Importing directory from file "C:\Windows\system32\sch45.ldf" Loading entries................................................................... 66 entries modified successfully. The command has completed successfully Verifying file signature Connecting to "VMDC1" Logging in as current user using SSPI Importing directory from file "C:\Windows\system32\sch46.ldf" Loading entries.... 3 entries modified successfully. The command has completed successfully Connecting to "VMDC1.smtp25.org" Logging in as current user using SSPI Importing directory from file "C:\Windows\system32\PAS.ldf" Loading entries.............. 13 entries modified successfully. The command has completed successfully ........................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................... ............................ Adprep successfully updated the forest-wide information.

D:\support\adprep>adprep32.exe /DomainPrep Running domainprep ... Adprep successfully updated the domain-wide information.

The new look of R2, is familiar to me from Windows 7, I am one of the beta tester and loving it so far. So with existing confident to Windows 7 , seeing same desktop and look giving me "Thumbs up" right away. Well behind new look, I am noticing fast new MCC called "Active Directory Administrative Center", dsac.exe, it looks very different and promising, I start liking it a lot right of the start. Finally we have much better interface to manage active directory.

• 10 reasons to upgrade the Win08-R2
• R2 OverView

If you have not had your hands dirty, I recommend doing it without losing time (-: with R2, I am sure it will surprise you a lot

Oz Ozugurlu

MVP (Exchange)

MCITP (EMA), MCITP (SA)

MCSE 2003, M+, S+, MCDST

Security+, Project +, Server +

Blog: http://www.smtp25.blogspot.com