Datasheet

6
Chapter 1
N
Preparing for the Exchange Installation
Windows Server 2003 interim
ßN
: This supports only Windows NT 4.0 and Windows
Server 2003 domain controllers. This mode is only used when you upgrade domain
controllers in Windows NT 4.0 domains to Windows Server 2003 domain controllers.
The domains in a forest are raised to this functional level; the forest level has been
increased to interim.
Windows Server 2003
ßN
: This level provides all Windows Server 2003 features and
functionality such as domain rename. This allows for only Windows Server 2003 and
higher domain controllers. All cross-forest Exchange Server 2007 features are supported
at this functional level.
Windows Server 2008
ßN
: This provides the highest level of features, such as fine-grained
password policies. This level allows for only Windows Server 2008 and higher domain
controllers.
The move from a lower functional level to a higher one is irreversible, so
be sure that all domain controllers running previous versions of Windows
Server have been retired or upgraded before you change the functional
level.
Domain Trees
A domain tree is a hierarchical arrangement of one or more Windows Active Directory
domains that share a common namespace. DNS domain names represent the tree structure.
The first domain in a tree is called the root domain. For example, a company named Wiley
Publishing (that has the Internet domain name wiley.com) might use the root domain wiley
.com in its primary domain tree. Additional domains in the tree under the root domain are
called child domains. For example, the domain sales.wiley.com would be a child domain of
the wiley.com domain. Figure 1.1 shows an example of a domain tree.
FIGURE 1.1 A domain tree is a hierarchical grouping of one or more domains.
wiley.com
sales.wiley.com production.wiley.com
marketing.sales.wiley.com