Who Should Read This Paper

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

This paper is intended for architects and project managers who are designing an Active Directory deployment and have identified a potential need for multiple Active Directory forests, or who have an existing single-forest environment that must change to accommodate multiple forests. They can use this paper to help them understand the impact of deploying multiple Active Directory forests on total cost of ownership, and draw up their plans accordingly.

This paper is not intended to provide recommendations for when to deploy multiple forests or prescriptive guidelines for how to deploy multiple forests. The goal is to present a high-level view of the configuration changes that are required to enable collaboration between forests. Microsoft intends to issue a deployment guide that provides detailed instructions for implementing these configuration changes.

For more information about the conditions that warrant deploying multiple forests, see “Design Considerations for Delegation of Administration in Active Directory.” You can view this document on the Microsoft® TechNet Web site at https://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/technologies/activedirectory/plan/addeladm.mspx.

For general Active Directory deployment planning information, see “Best Practice Active Directory Design for Managing Windows Networks.” You can view this document on the Microsoft TechNet Web site at https://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/technologies/activedirectory/plan/bpaddsgn.mspx.

For information about deploying Microsoft® Exchange 2000 Server with Active Directory in a Windows 2000 Server environment, see “Best Practice Active Directory Design for Exchange 2000.” You can download this document from the Microsoft Web site at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=10517.