Active Directory Schema Update/Schema Version

Active Directory Schema update

Schema update is nothing but extends the schema to support new operating system and applications features

Normally schema update is done for applications like Exchange and SCCM, schema update also is done for operating systems, Active Directory to support the new operating system and same time OS with the new release, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2 have the different schema versions, you have to update the schema before updating the new release version of OS (Windows Server 2003 R2) in your environment.

Like Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008 also has the different schema versions, Windows Server 2008 RTM & Windows Server 2008 & Windows Server 2008 R2

I would like to explain history for the past schema update

Schema version for new operation system

Find the Schema version for the operating systems

13 – Windows 2000 Server
30 – Windows Server 2003 RTM, Windows 2003 With Service Pack 1, Windows 2003 With Service Pack 2
31 -Windows Server 2003 R2
44 – Windows Server 2008 RTM
47 – Windows Server 2008 R2

56 – Windows Server 2012

69 – Windows Server 2012 R2

87 – Windows Server 2016

Schema version for Exchange application

Find the Exchange Schema version for the Exchange Servers

4397 -Exchange Server 2000 RTM
4406 -Exchange Server 2000 With Service Pack 3
6870 -Exchange Server 2003 RTM
6936 – Exchange Server 2003 With Service Pack 3
10628 – Exchange Server 2007
11116 – Exchange 2007 With Service Pack 1
14726 – Exchange 2010 With Service Pack 1

These are the Schema version and the corresponding operating system and Exchange versions

How do I check my current schema version?

Yes you can check the current schema version by using the below command

For Active Directory Schema version

“dsquery * cn=schema,cn=configuration,dc=domainname,dc=local -scope base -attr objectVersion“

For Exchange Schema version

“dsquery * CN=ms-Exch-Schema-Version-Pt,cn=schema,cn=configuration,dc=domain,dc=local -scope base -attr rangeUpper“

How do you update the schema?

Different procedures has been followed for schema update for application and OS, it’s depends on the application and operating system version (Please check the respective upgrade guide for more info) all the schema update are similar to below procedure.

For Windows Server 2003 R2

The adprep /forestprep

For Exchange 2007 with Service Pack 1

Run the below command from Exchange CD on Schema master server in Active Directory.

Setup /PrepareSchema

You have to run the below command also to update the Active Directory and Domain

Setup /PrepareAD
Setup /PrepareDomain

More Info: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/556086