2003 DC AD upgrade to 2008 on second server migration plan
Make sure you are using the version of adprep from 2008 R2. It should be run on the schema master and infrastructure master for the domain for /forestprep and /domainprep respectively. Win2008 R2 is 64bit, but it also has a 32bit version of adprep if you need it. (ADPREP32) Yes, it can be run during business hours, and I have never seen them take more than a few seconds to do their jobs.
- Run adprep /forestprep. Wait for schema changes to replicate.
- Run adprep /domainprep. Wait for replication.
- Don't mess with domain and forest functional levels yet.
- DCPROMO your Win2008R2 box alongside your existing DCs.
- Transfer FSMO roles to it if you wish.
- Begin decomissioning your old DCs by first demoting them with DCPROMO.
- You're done. Your domain and forest functional levels are still at 2003, you simply have a 2008 R2 machine for a domain controller. (You didn't specify exactly what your DFL and FFL was so I assumed.)
Answering your questions:
You need to transfer the roles manually as per my instructions above, that is, if your intent is to let the new 2008R2 DC have the FSMOs.
Yes, DCPROMO should be all that is required to demote a domain controller. If something goes wrong trying to demote it though you'll have to perform a metadata cleanup. (Not hard.)
After all of your old DCs are gone and you have only 2008R2 DCs in your forest, you can start thinking about raising the FFL and DFL.
Upgrade Plan comments:
Step 31 eliminates the need for step 2.
I don't understand step 7. I've never done anything like that when upgrading from a 2K3 domain to a 2K8 domain.
Question answers:
You don't need to transfer the FSMO roles at all. If you're only introducing a W2K8 DC to a W2K3 domain/forest the W2K8 DC will happliy exist at the W2K3 domain and forest levels. If your goal is to replace the W2K3 DC and raise the domain and forest functional levels then simply run DCPROMO on the W2K3 DC and DCPROMO will gracefully transfer the FSMO roles to the W2K8 DC, whereupon you can raise the domain and functional levels.
See answer to question 1.
No
In addition, you can read this guide to make sure you're not missing anything:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731188(v=ws.10).aspx