The Functional Level of the forest is incompatible with this operating system

I want to introduce a Windows 2008 r2 domain controller in a Windows 2012/Windows 2012R2 Domain .

let see how to we can lower Active Directory domain/forest Functional Level from 2012/2012R2 to 2008 R2

To See Existing Forest/Domain functional level

Open Power shell in Windows Server 2012 Domain Controller

Import-Module ActiveDirectory

Get-Adforest

Get-ADDomain

========

Authentication Policies is the only important feature enabled on 2012 R2.

To Reduce the forest/domain functional level to 2008R2

Set-ADForestMode –Identity “testcareexchange.biz” –ForestMode Windows2008R2Forest

Set-ADDomainMode –Identity “testcareexchange.biz” –DomainMode Windows2008R2Domain

Now my 2008R2 domain controller can be introduced .

Note – Once Recycle Bin is enabled on 2012/2012R2 Level it won’t allow you to roll back.

Satheshwaran Manoharan

Exchange MVP , Publisher of CareExchange.in
I have been supporting/Deploying/Designing Microsoft Exchange for some years . If you any Questions ?. Please share you thoughts via Comments.