2021/10/25 下午3:40 How to Raise Active Directory Domain and Forest Functional Level?

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How to Raise Active

Directory Domain and
Forest Functional
Level?
OCTOBER 10, 2020 • CYRIL KARDASHEVSKY
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The functional level of the Active Directory domain and

forest determines the available features that can be
used in the domain, and the Windows Server version you
can use on domain controllers.

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For example, if you have Windows Server 2016 domain

controllers, and the domain functional level is only
Windows Server 2003, you won’t be able to use the
Active Directory Recycle Bin (introduced in the AD
version in Windows Server 2008 R2). In this article, we’ll
show you how to raise your Active Directory domain and ADVERTISEMENT
forest functional level from Windows Server 2012 R2 to
Windows Server 2016.

How to Check the Domain and

Forest Functional Levels?

You can check the current domain and forest functional

level using the Active Directory Domains and Trusts mmc
snap-in (domain.msc). Open your domain properties.
Domain and forest functional levels are listed on the
General tab. In our case, this is Windows Server 2012 R2.
Search …

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You can display the current domain functional level

using PowerShell:

Get-ADDomain | fl Name, DomainMode

Windows2012R2Domain

Now let’s check the forest functional level:

Get-ADForest | fl Name, ForestMode

Windows2012R2Forest

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How to Raise Active Directory

Domain and Forest Functional
Levels?
Before raising the domain and forest functional level,
you need to upgrade the Windows Server version on all
domain controllers to Windows Server 2016. You can use
an in-place upgrade (not recommended), or install
additional domain controllers with Windows Server 2016,
and correctly remove legacy DC versions from your
Active Directory environment.

Hint. When you upgrade the domain functional level

from Windows Server 2003 to a newer version, the
password for the krbtgt account will be forcibly reset.
This can affect the availability of Exchange services. Also,
remember to migrate AD replication in the domain from
FRS to Distributed File Service (DFS) replication.

To raise the functional level of a domain, you can run the

mmc snap-in Active Directory Domains and Trusts. Right
click on the domain name, and select Raise Domain
Functional Level.

In the window that opens, select the functional level

Windows Server 2016, and click the Raise button.

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Before you can raise the forest functional level, all

domains in the forest must be upgraded to the same or
a higher domain functional level. To raise the functional
level of a forest, you must be a member of the
Enterprise Admins group. The Active Directory Domains
and Trusts snap-in is also used to raise the functional
level of the forest.

Right click on the root of the snap-in, and select Raise

Forest Functional Level.

In the next windows, select the required functional

forest level, and click the Raise button

Important! The domain and AD forest functional level

upgrade cannot be reversed.

You can also raise the domain functional level using

PowerShell. The following command is used:

Set-ADDomainMode -identity theitbros.com -Domai

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Wait for AD replication to complete and verify that all

domain controllers report the domain functional level is
now Windows2016Domain.

To raise the functional level of the forest, another

command is used:

Set-ADForestMode -Identity theitbros.com -Fores

Author Recent Posts

Cyril Kardashevsky
I enjoy technology and developing websites. Since
2012 I'm running a few of my own websites, and
share useful content on gadgets, PC administration
and website promotion.

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2 COMMENTS

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2021/10/25 下午3:40 How to Raise Active Directory Domain and Forest Functional Level? – TheITBros

Johannes says:
April 25, 2021 at 10:43 am

Set-ADForestMode -Identity theitbros.com -

ForestMode Windows2016Forest
nicht Set-ADForestMode -Identity theitbros.com -
ForestMode Windows2016Domain oder?

Reply

a says:
April 26, 2021 at 7:44 am

The command should look like the following

Set-ADForestMode -Identity theitbros.com -
ForestMode Windows2016Forest

Reply

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