Problem setting up Windows Storage Server 2008 as a domain control

[Agilent]

We are having Windows Server 2003 computer on a domain that works as the PDC. We purchased a new machine of Dell that has Windows Storage Server 2008 installed. We want a way to setup the new computer as thePDC and phase out the old computer, that is, add new computer as a secondary domain controller, promote it to primary and then demote the old computer. On the Windows Server 2003 machine we did a forestprep and a domainprep. We then tried to power up the Windows Storage Server 2008 and added the Active Directory Domain Services role. After that, we simply clicked on the link to run Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard but it doesnt seems to work. So, we ran command prompt and tried to run dcpromo but we were getting some error that says "The active Directory Domain Services Installation wizard is not supported on this SKU". So, after going through with the documentation, we tried to run dcpromo with the /unattend switch but we still get the same error? The other error messages that I am getting is:

Server Manager
Failed to start ActiveDirectory Domain Services.
The service cannot be started either becose it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.


Services

The Active Directory Domain services service on "Server Name" started and then stopped. Some services stop automatically if they are not in use by other services or programs.

Any ideas how to solve this?

[Andrew]

I think that the Windows Storage Server will not be able to promote to domain controller, hence you will need another edition like standard, datacenter, enterprise. Hope this helps.

[TABLITA]

I got a link which has detailed information on configuring the storage server on DC. This might be complicated, but still you can try checking out the below link. You have to check out all the features of Windows server you are using and then only you can go ahead with setup. If it does not support then there is no solution. But if it is then the below link will help you to get more proper solution.

Installing the Configuration Storage Server on a Domain Controller

[Bahumathi]

Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 can do the same. To get this feature you will have to upgrade the server to 2008 from 2003. You can use this as branch office server and take benefit from RODC. This is a kind of Read-Only Domain Controller which can be used to provide login stuff to branch users. It uses DFS. I am giving you a link below which is having detail information on the issue. You can simply read the same to get more from the same.

Windows Storage Server 2008 R2