Upgrade DFS Namespace from 'Windows 2000 Server mode' to 'Windows Server 2008 mode'

Question

_{Saturday, February 23, 2008 5:41 PM}

The 'Changes in Functionality…' guide (http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/library/1f0d326d-35af-4193-bda3-0d1688f90ea71033.mspx?mfr=true) says:

To use the Windows Server 2008 mode, the domain and domain-based namespace must meet the following minimum requirements:

•	The domain uses the Windows Server 2008 domain functional level.
•	All namespace servers are running Windows Server 2008.

If your environment supports it, choose the Windows Server 2008 mode when you create new domain-based namespaces. This mode provides additional features and scalability, and also eliminates the possible need to migrate a namespace from the Windows 2000 Server mode.

So thre's supposed to be some way to migrate (or upgrade) an existing DFS Namespace created in Windows 2000 Server mode to Windows Server 2008 Mode. What is it?

Say I've replaced all of my DCs running Windows Server 2003 with new ones which run Windows Server 2008. Then I've raised my domain functional level. And there are some namespaces in the domain. I'd like to enable Access-based Enumeration for them. But it would be a pain to destroy and re-create the namespaces.

All replies (8)

_{Friday, February 29, 2008 1:16 AM ✅Answered | 1 vote}

Hi,

Right now there is a semi-automated way to accomplish this, please check http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/library/48a5ae6b-b357-46cc-93b0-6a1309c992321033.mspx?mfr=true

Regards,

John

_{Saturday, March 1, 2008 12:08 AM | 2 votes}

Thanks, I gonna try this. But before I start I have a couple more questions.

1. It seems that the command-line examples in the article are incomplete. I suppose there must be exact paths like '\domain\namespace' and 'path\filename' somewhere.

2. What will happen to my replication groups and topology? I suppose they will neither be exported with 'Dfsutil root export' command, nor removed with 'Dfsutil root remove' command. So I guess they will be preserved and stay in place even during and after the namespace re-creation. Correct?

3. Do I have to wait for replication to complete after removing domain-based namespace? I.e. should I wait for the namespace to disappear on all the domain controllers? Or I can re-create the namespace in 'v2' mode immediately after deleting 'v1' one on my PDC emulator?

4. Are there any spesial considerations if I used DNS mode for my 'v1' namespace? I mean that all the DCs have 'DfsDnsConfig' value in their registry.

_{Tuesday, June 2, 2009 2:41 PM | 3 votes}

I would really like to have the questions posed by Pronichkin answered, even though that was over a year ago.

We are looking at upgrading a namespace that contains almost 1 million files and 600 GB worth of data. However I'm very afraid that if I export and re-import the DFS namespace to update it, it will peform a new initial replication, which would take a long time.

Can anyone confirm whether this will occur, and perhaps address the questions above?

_{Thursday, December 3, 2009 8:01 AM}

I would really like to have the questions posed by Pronichkin answered, even though that was over a year ago.

_{Wednesday, September 22, 2010 7:40 AM}

I would also appreciate a qualified answer to those questions.

Thank you.

_{Friday, November 5, 2010 11:17 PM | 1 vote}

bump

_{Thursday, September 8, 2011 4:26 PM}

Hey all,

no it will not reintiallize the replication.....its just a name space migration and you should force the replication (repadmin /syncall /AdeP) after deleting the old name space so that it should get removed from all the DC in the Domain  

_{Saturday, January 12, 2013 5:27 PM}

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753875.aspx

Miguel Fra | Falcon IT Services, Miami, FL
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