Domain Functional Level Compare
You can run on domain controllers in the domain or forest.
Domain functional level compare. To directly quote microsoft domain forest functional levels determine the available active directory domain services ad ds domain or forest. Domain and forest functional level enables domain and forest wide features withing network. Functional levels determine the available active directory domain services ad ds domain or forest capabilities. From the administrative tools menu select active directory domains and trusts or active directory users and computers.
Under the general tab the domain functional level and forest functional level is displayed on the screen. Functional level determines the active directory domain services capabilities in domain and forest. Right click the root domain then select properties. There are some explanations with the functions up to windows server 2008 r2 and some on the differences between windows server 2008 r2 and windows server 2012.
When the functional level of a forest or domain within active directory is raised certain set of advanced features become available to the users. It specifies a minimum functional level at which all dcs operate. If you have to revert to a lower functional level with a version of windows server that is earlier than windows server 2008 r2 you must rebuild the domain or forest or restore it from a backup copy. Domain functional level dfl determines the features of a domain controller dc based on the windows server operating system os it runs on.
In your case you have only two domain controllers and both of them have 2008 r2 installed. It also determines which windows server o s. Domain functional levels and forest functional levels. So you can proceed with raising your functional level if it is not already configured to work in 2008 r2 level.
What is the domain functional level dfl. 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. Welche domain controller bei welchem domain functional level unterstützt werden geht ebenfalls auf der liste hervor. Today i recognized that it is not easy to find a comprehensive summary table about active directory domain and forest functional levels operating mode on the internet.
With windows server 2012 and r2 it is possible to roll back forest and domain functional level with limitation as defined in table in the link. The forest functional level ffl determines the features of active directory domain services ad ds that are enabled in a forest. They also determine which windows server operating systems you can run on domain controllers in the domain or forest.