We recently published TechNet topics about Adprep.exe
for Windows Server 2012. Adprep has many changes for this release:
for Windows Server 2012. Adprep has many changes for this release:
- Adprep runs automatically as needed as part of
AD DS installation. For example, if you are installing AD DS on a server
that runs Windows Server 2012 in a forest where all existing domain controllers
run a previous version of Windows Server, then adprep /forestprep and adprep
/domainprep run automatically before the AD DS installation on the Windows
Server 2012 server begins. If you are installing a read-only domain controller in this
case, then adprep /rodcprep runs automatically in addition to the other
commands. - Adprep runs remotely, and targets the
appropriate operations master roles (FSMOs) as needed. These FSMO role holders
must be online and reachable from the server where you run Adprep. - Although it runs automatically during AD DS
installation, you can also run Adprep.exe separately in advance of an AD DS
installation, as with previous releases of Windows Server and Active Directory. - Adprep must be run on a 64-bit server that runs Windows
Server 2008 or later. There is no longer a 32-bit version (Adprep32.exe). - The forest functional level must be Windows
Server 2003 or higher in order to run Adprep. - Adprep /domainprep /gpprep does not run
automatically, so it must be run separately as needed. You will still be able
to install AD DS without running this command, but RSOP Planning Mode will
function correctly only after this command has been run. See KB 2737129.
How to Upgrade to Windows Server 2008 from Windows Server 2003. If you are upgrading a 2003 Domain Controller, you will need to copy a couple of scripts from Server 2008 disc to your Server's hard disk and then run adprep/FORESTPREP and adprep/DOMAINPREP. Home » Uncategorized » Upgrading a Windows 2003 Domain to Windows Server 2008 R2. Hook up an external or download the ISO of the 2008 R2 Media from TechNet or MSDN and mount it using any number of free. Controller you are on has a 32 bit OS on it you will want to run ADPrep32.exe if it is a 64bit OS you will need to run ADPrep.exe.
The following TechNet topics related
to Adprep have been updated for Windows Server 2012:
to Adprep have been updated for Windows Server 2012:
- Windows Server
2012: Changes to Adprep.exe (this is only a navigation page) - Windows Server
2012: Read-Only Domain Controller Updates (there are none btw, but I included
this topic in any case for completeness) - Windows Server
2012: Schema Updates (this is just a copy of the .ldf files that ship
with the OS disk)
Justin [Active Directory
Documentation Team]
Are you having trouble running ADPREP on your current 32-bit Domain Controller? Have you ran ADPREP multiple times on your Domain but still get an error stating you have not prepared your Domain yet?Documentation Team]
Here is a change that gets even the most seasoned Admins. In Windows 2008 Server R2 there is a new ADPREP that needs to be run on a Domain Controller that are your FSMO role holder of the Schema Master role and run a 32-bit version of Windows Server.
The Domain prep tool is called ADPREP32 which is located on in the supportadprep.
The switches for the ADPREP32 are the same as the adprep. Here are the main switches used /FORESTPREP, /DOMAINPREP, and /RODCPREP.
Now adprep is still used when your current Domain Controller that holds the FSMO role of Schema Master role is running a 64-bit version of Windows Server. Actually the 64-bit version of ADPREP runs by default this is why you must know to run ADPREP32 on your 32-bit Domain Controller.
Some background information on adprep:
ADPREP is a command line tool that comes with each version of Windows server. ADPREP is used to extend the Active Directory schema to support the new features of Active Directory Services in the new Windows version.
There are a number of switches that need to be used with the ADPREP command depending on the version of Windows and the current Domain/Forest structure.
ADPREP updates the Active Directory schema; updates security descriptors; modifies ACLs for Active Directory objects & SYSVOL; and sometimes creates new objects and containers.
Here are the Active Directory schema versions:
13=Windows 2000
30=windows 2003
![Windows server 2008 r2 download Windows server 2008 r2 download](http://www.admin-magazine.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/images/winserv-f02/65147-1-eng-US/Winserv-F02_reference.jpg)
44=Windows 2008
47=Windows 2008 R2
To find your current AD schema you can run this nice tool http://www.joeware.net/freetools/tools/adfind/index.htm with this command adfind -sc schver that I found out about from Mkline71. Before this tool I was doing it the manual way.
Additional information on adprep can be found here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731728(WS.10).aspx
http://blog.rickmitchellsolutions.com/2010/01/windows-server-2008-r2-adprep.html