For migration steps, you can either follow the procedures on TechNet or you can refer to the streamlined set of steps on the Storage Team File Cabinet blog. If you created the domain at a lower functional level, you will need to migrate from using FRS to DFS replication for SYSVOL. If you create a new domain at the Windows Server 2008 domain functional level or higher, DFS Replication is automatically used to replicate SYSVOL. As a result, any domain controller that runs Windows Server 2008 R2 and older should be removed from the domain.Īt the Windows Server 2008 and higher domain functional levels, Distributed File Service (DFS) Replication is used to replicate SYSVOL folder contents between domain controllers.

With the end of life of Windows Server 2003, 2008, and 2008 R2, these domain controllers (DCs) need to be updated to Windows Server 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, or 2019. You can set the domain functional level to a value that is higher than the forest functional level, but you cannot set the domain functional level to a value that is lower than the forest functional level. When you deploy a new forest, you are prompted to set the forest functional level and then set the domain functional level. This way, you can use as many AD DS features as possible. When you deploy AD DS, set the domain and forest functional levels to the highest value that your environment can support. However, functional levels do not affect which operating systems you can run on workstations and member servers that are joined to the domain or forest. They also determine which Windows Server operating systems you can run on domain controllers in the domain or forest.

Applies to: Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012įunctional levels determine the available Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) domain or forest capabilities.

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