Raise Windows Functional Levels of Domains

To enable all Windows Server 2008 advanced Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) features, raise the functional level of your forest to Windows Server 2008. This will automatically raise the functional level of all domains to Windows Server 2008.

Note: You can raise the forest functional level to Windows Server 2008 only after all domain controllers in your forest are running Windows Server 2008. After you raise the domain or forest functional level, you cannot go back to a lower functional level.

To raise the forest functional level

Open the Active Directory Domains and Trusts snap-in. Click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Domains and Trusts.

In the console tree, right-click Active Directory Domains and Trusts, and then click Raise Forest Functional Level.

In Select an available forest functional level, do one of the following:

•	To raise the forest functional level to Windows Server 2003, click Windows Server 2003, and then click Raise.
•	To raise the forest functional level to Windows Server 2008, click Windows Server 2008, and then click Raise.

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