Deploying a Windows Server 2008 Forest Root Domain

Applies To: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2

Deploying your forest root domain is the first step in deploying Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) in your organization. The forest root domain provides the foundation for your AD DS forest infrastructure. During the forest root domain deployment, you begin to implement the AD DS design that your design team has provided, including the Domain Name System (DNS) infrastructure that AD DS requires. The forest owner is responsible for deploying the forest root domain. After the forest root domain deployment is complete, deploy the remainder of your AD DS forest as specified by your Active Directory design.

About this guide

This guide is intended for use by system administrators and system engineers. It provides detailed guidance for deploying an AD DS forest root domain. For a seamless deployment experience, use the checklists that are provided in this guide and complete the tasks in them in the order in which they are presented.

In this guide

• Checklist: Deploying a Windows Server 2008 Forest Root Domain

• Reviewing the AD DS Design

• Configuring DNS for the Forest Root Domain

• Creating the Forest Root Domain

• Raising the Functional Levels

• Finding Additional Resources for Deploying the Windows Server 2008 Forest Root Domain

• Appendix A: Transition Namespaces

Related information

• For more information about deploying additional regional domains, see Deploying Windows Server 2008 Regional Domains.

• For more information about upgrading AD DS domains, see Upgrading Active Directory Domains to Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 AD DS Domains.

• For more information about restructuring AD DS domains within and between forests, see the Active Directory Migration Tool version 3.1 Migration Guide (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=93678).