Raise AD forest funcation level effect lower version of OS

Innocent Heartvoice 246 Reputation points
2021-06-27T08:35:36.133+00:00

Our forest and domain funcational level is 2008 R2 and Exchange 2010 is running on Windows 2008 R2. We have to raise our forest and domain funcational level to Windows 2012 R2.

My concern, the servers that are running on Windows 2008 R2 and Exchange 2010 will be connected on DC 2012 R2 after upgrading the forest and domain level, not talking about the DC 2008 R2.

Please confirm.

Windows Server
Windows Server
A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.
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Exchange Server Management
Exchange Server Management
Exchange Server: A family of Microsoft client/server messaging and collaboration software.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
6,488 questions

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  1. Daisy Zhou 13,786 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2021-06-28T01:45:16.273+00:00

    Hello @Innocent Heartvoice ,

    Thank you for posting here.

    Hope the information provided by LeonLaude is helpful to you.

    Here is another information for your reference.

    Functional levels determine the available Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) domain or forest capabilities. They also determine which Windows Server operating systems you can run on domain controllers in the domain or forest. However, functional levels do not affect which operating systems you can run on workstations and member servers that are joined to the domain or forest.

    And before you raise your forest and domain functional level to Windows 2012 R2, ensure all the Domain Controllers in the forest are 2012 R2 DCs.

    Reference
    Forest and Domain Functional Levels
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/active-directory-functional-levels

    If anything is unclear or should you have any question or concern, please feel free to let us know.

    Best Regards,
    Daisy Zhou

    ============================================

    If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.

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  2. Leon Laude 85,216 Reputation points
    2021-06-27T10:28:56.02+00:00

    Hi @Innocent Heartvoice ,

    Exchange 2010 is supported with Windows Server 2012 R2 AD servers and AD forest functional level of 2012 R2, as long as your Exchange 2010 is running SP3 RU5 - RU21.

    There shouldn't be any effect on your Exchange when upgrading your AD forest functional level to 2012 R2.

    For more information, see:

    Exchange Server supportability matrix
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/Exchange/plan-and-deploy/supportability-matrix?redirectedfrom=MSDN&view=exchserver-2019

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    If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you!

    Best regards,
    Leon

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