Elevate Forest & Domain Functional Levels

Copper Contributor

Feb 25, 2020

According to Microsoft:

"The functional level of a domain or forest defines only the set of Windows operating systems that can run on domain controllers and the set of available features. It does not define the client operating systems that are supported in the forest."

This is what it said in my windows server 2008 R2 when I click the help button (because on server 2012 and higher it will navigate you to their website).

I raised it before from Windows Server 2003 into 2008 R2, so far I didn't encounter errors/issues when I raised the domain and forest functional level.

For me, raising it will improve the features in your domain since your operating system is Windows Server 2016, the domain will function within the available operating system. you cannot rollback because it's like you degrade your Windows Server 2016 back into Windows Server 2012 or lower. Microsoft does not recommend that. and your current domain will not function if you degrade your operating system. Microsoft wants to avail of the best features and the latest version of its products.

for potential pitfalls, replication between your primary & additional DC's and your configuration of your domain and set policy.

Best,

spacegabx

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