Extending the Active Directory schema is not required for installing Configuration Manager 2007 or using most of the product features; however, by extending the schema for Configuration Manager you can use all Configuration Manager features and with the least amount of administrative overheads. Extending the schema for Configuration Manager 2007 also offers the most secure solution for storing configuration information.
The Active Directory schema can be extended before or after running Configuration Manager 2007 Setup. Because SMS 2003 sites will continue to function properly by using Configuration Manager 2007 Active Directory schema extensions, the best practice for configuring a secure site is to always extend the Active Directory schema before installing Configuration Manager 2007 sites
By extending the Active Directory schema for Configuration Manager 2007, you can take advantage of publishing information to Active Directory Domain Services as soon as the site is upgraded. When extending the schema for Configuration Manager 2007, ensure that sufficient time is allowed for the schema changes to replicate through the Active Directory forest.
 Note |
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| When upgrading an SMS 2003 site that is publishing site information to Active Directory Domain Services, upgrade the Active Directory schema extensions for Configuration Manager 2007 before upgrading the site. Proceeding without upgrading the schema extensions will result in some Configuration Manager features being unavailable after installation. Additionally, until the schema is extended for Configuration Manager 2007, you will need to install a server locator point for client assignment to succeed. |