Windows Server - Configure Server 2008 to join SBS 2003 Domain

Asked By pa

22-Jan-10 10:46 AM

Client has an exisiting 2003 SBS Domain. They purchased Server 2008 Ent
Edition and that will be setup and configured with a software application and
users before it is sent to the site that has the 2003 SBS. 10 machines are
also being configured to connect to the 2008 Server before the server and
computers are sent to the 2003 SBS location. Can the 2008 server be setup as
a domain before it is shipped and then moved to the SBS 2003 domain once it
gets there?
--
Pat

22-Jan-10 11:59 AM

In a word, no. You cannot join a computer to a domain without connecting to
the domain. And any users you add to the computer will be _local_ accounts,
not domain accounts.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel

22-Jan-10 12:12 PM

Not today, not with any current SBS version, but a new feature in Server
2008 R2 / Windows 7 does allow offline domain joins. So, someday in the SBS
world it may be possible, but not yet.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd392267(WS.10).aspx

--
/kj

22-Jan-10 12:36 PM

So where is my flying car kj?
I was promised in the year 2000
Oh that was not your promise.. never mind :)

Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
World Wide 24hr SBS Remote Support - http://www.SBITS.Biz
Microsoft Online Services - http://www.microsoft-online-services.com

22-Jan-10 12:55 PM

Thinking out loud here...

How about installing the Win2008 Ent as a DC on a 64-bit capable laptop (do
not activate it), take it to the main office, join it to the domain,
replicate AD, then bring it back to the shop.  Then install Win2008 Ent on
the new server hardware as a DC and replicate AD from the laptop DC to new
server hardware.  Would that work?  If it would, you might also be able to
create a Win2008 virtual machine on a 64-bit laptop where Hyper-V has been
installed and then use that VM for replicating the AD.

Or maybe even installing Disk2VHD to the SBS 2003 at the main office, and
creating a VHD of the SBS 2003 to an external USB drive.  Then bring the
ext. drive back to the shop and create a VM with it on a server with Hyper-V
installed.  Then do the AD replication.

You *may* have to refrain from any further AD updates in the SBS 2003 server
after capturing the VM, until the new server was in place at the main
office.

--
Merv  Porter   [SBS-MVP]
============================

22-Jan-10 12:59 PM

You've been watching too many reruns of The Jetson's, Russ.  And maybe
there is still time since they were set in the year 2062.  :-)

--
Merv  Porter   [SBS-MVP]
============================

22-Jan-10 01:03 PM

it is sitting in the Boeing aviation museum in Seattle. Unclaimed, I presume
;-).

I think I have a photo somewhere .....

--
-----------------------------------------------
Les Connor [SBS MVP]

22-Jan-10 01:17 PM

Wow you are just 5hrs north of me (portland)
I should come and visit!
RUss

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
World Wide 24hr SBS Remote Support - http://www.SBITS.Biz
Microsoft Online Services - http://www.microsoft-online-services.com

22-Jan-10 01:30 PM

No, I am not - but the car with wings is.

--
-----------------------------------------------
Les Connor [SBS MVP]

22-Jan-10 01:39 PM

oh I see
Is it an older car like 60's?
I think a guy from Longview Washington Made it?
(Just north of here near my home town of Kelso)

Detroit would not touch it.
and the FAA did not like it at all..

Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
World Wide 24hr SBS Remote Support - http://www.SBITS.Biz
Microsoft Online Services - http://www.microsoft-online-services.com

22-Jan-10 02:05 PM

Just so we can wrap up the thread ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26262745@N08/3948162607/

--
-----------------------------------------------
Les Connor [SBS MVP]

22-Jan-10 02:54 PM

I think I'd probably take the pain and suffering of doing a domain join over
a VPN first Dave.

Surprised Russ did not take issue with an offline domain join without using a
wizard. :-)

You can keep the flying car, I want my jetpack - one that lasts all week not
just a few seconds.
Hey, we got multipassword policies, offline domain joins, AD recycle bins,
domain renames. Now if we could just get domain prune and grafts, I'd be a
happy camper.


--
/kj

22-Jan-10 03:05 PM

That's interesting and creative. Maybe I can just setup the 2008 server as a
workgroup and not join the 10 new machines to the Domain until they get
on-site at which time I would have the 2008 server joined to the 2003 SBS
domain. Will there be an issue if I install SQL 2008 on the Server in
not be a problem. they also have 10 teminal server users that i need to
setup. that could be an issue unless I wait until the server us in the
domain. Flying cars or not.
--
Pat

22-Jan-10 03:39 PM

That's it
the guy lived in Longview Washington and test flew it in Kelso (my Home
town)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerocar

Looks cool and works :)
Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
World Wide 24hr SBS Remote Support - http://www.SBITS.Biz
Microsoft Online Services - http://www.microsoft-online-services.com

22-Jan-10 04:04 PM

What if their is a 2008 R2 Ent Edition Server running in its own Domain and
then you want to introduce a SBS 2003 Server to the network?
--
Pat

22-Jan-10 04:18 PM

I suppose I could try this:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc708131(WS.10).aspx

To join a computer running Windows Server 2008 as a member server to the
Windows SBS network:
1. Physically connect the computer running Windows Server 2008 to the
Windows SBS network.
2. Log on to the computer that is running Windows Server 2008 by using the
local administrator
account.
3. Click Start, right-click Computer, and then click Properties. The System
control panel appears.
4. Click Change settings.
5.  If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action
it displays is what you
want, and then click Continue.
6. On the Computer Name tab, click Change.
7. Select Domain, type the name of your Windows SBS domain name, and then
click OK.
8. Type the user name and password for the Windows SBS domain administrator
account, and then click
OK.
9. Click OK twice, and then click Close to save your settings.
10. Restart the server.

I think I would lose any users or computers that were created for the 2008
domain if that were done but those could be recreated on the 2003 SBS
domain....I suppose.
--
Pat

22-Jan-10 06:06 PM

Good question. I think the AD side of SBS will be OK. But somewhere in the
product bundle that is SBS something might have 'issue'. Honestly I have not
attempted that scenerio in the lab ... yet.


At minimum would be following the documentation for installing SBS2003 into
an existing AD domain with all the restrictions and limitations also
applying to an 08R2 AD.



--
/kj

22-Jan-10 06:10 PM

If I understand correctly, you would not be allowed to do that if the server
was a domain controller. It would have to either be a member server or a
workgroup first. No domain accounts from any previous accounts would exist
after joining to the SBS domain. Only  *references* to SIDs fron the old
domains.