Tech Tip: Enable AD schema updates

In some cases, it may become necessary to update the Active Directory (AD) schema. For example, enabling schema updates is necessary if you're updating your Windows 2000 domain to Windows 2003 and your existing forest contains Exchange 2000 servers.

You must enable AD schema updates on the domain controller that holds the schema operations role. You can enable schema updates via the Schema Management Console.

Follow these steps:

  1. At the command prompt, type regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll. This should result in a dialog box that says DllRegisterServer In Schmmgmt.dll Succeeded.
  2. Open the management console by typing mmc at the command prompt.
  3. Go to Console | Add/Remove Snap-in.
  4. In the Add/Remove Snap-in dialog box, click the Add button.
  5. In the Add Standalone Snap-in dialog box, select Active Directory Schema, click Add, and click OK.
  6. From the console, right-click Active Directory Schema, and select Operations Master.
  7. In the Change Schema Master dialog box, select the Schema May Be Modified On This Domain Controller check box, and click OK.

You can now update the schema on the system that holds the schema operations master role.