EXERCISE 1.01G ENERATING A G ROUP P OLICY M ODELING R EPORTIN THIS EXE...

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Chapter 1 • Using Windows Server 2003 Planning Tools and Documentation

Test Lab Domain Structure

Although you usually want your test lab to mimic your production environment asclosely as possible, there are exceptions to every rule. Some tests that you mightwish to perform will affect an entire domain or forest, rather than a single machine.If you are testing this type of functionality, you might wish to create a separatedomain within the test lab so that the remainder of the lab environment will notbe adversely affected.Some of the tests for which you might wish to create a separate, isolateddomain or forest are as follows:

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Switching from mixed mode to native mode Changing from mixed

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mode to native mode will allow for much tighter security in a Windows2000 or Windows Server 2003 environment, but it assumes that youhave no Windows NT 4.0 backup domain controllers (BDCs) remainingin your domain. (After the switch to native mode, Windows NT 4.0BDCs will no longer be able to replicate with Windows 2000 orWindows Server 2003 domain controllers.) This change will affect anentire domain and cannot be reversed.

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Upgrading the domain or forest functional level This feature wasintroduced in Windows 2000, where you had the ability to run adomain in mixed mode for backward compatibility or native mode forincreased security and functionality. Windows Server 2003 expands onthis by creating several levels of both forest and domain functionalitythat can expose different features of the operating system for your use.For example, raising the functional level of a domain to WindowsServer 2003 native will prevent any existing Windows NT 4.0 orWindows 2000 Server domain controllers from participating in domainreplication. Like the switch from mixed to native mode, this will affectthe entire domain and/or forest in question and cannot be undone.

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DNS settings Changes to a DNS server will affect all clients who usethat server for name resolution. Although this does not involve thekinds of one-way changes described above, you should still proceedwith caution before making changes that can affect other tests thatmight be running simultaneously in the lab environment.One important (but often overlooked) step in the planning process is that of carefullyselecting a location for your test lab.Too often, the test lab is relegated to a corner of aserver room or whatever room is available in a file or storage area. However, if you will beperforming tests for an extended period of time, you should consider allocating a perma-nent or semipermanent location for the lab. Be sure to locate the test lab in an area withenough space for all necessary equipment and personnel. If you will be testing networkequipment that will be deployed to multiple locations, you should consider deploying a testhttps://traloihay.net