You can extend the Active Directory schema by running the ExtADSch.exe file located in the SMSSETUP\BIN\I386 folder on the Configuration Manager 2007 installation media. The ExtADSch.exe file does not display output when it runs; however, it does generate a log file in the root of the system drive called extadsch.log, which will indicate whether the schema update completed successfully or any problems were encountered while extending the schema.

Note
In addition to generating a log file, the version of the ExtADSch.exe program that is included with Configuration Manager 2007 SP2 provides command console feedback when it is run from the command line.

When using ExtADSch.exe to extend the Active Directory schema for Configuration Manager, you should be aware of the following limitations.

To extend the Active Directory schema using ExtADSch.exe

  1. Create a backup of the schema master domain controller’s system state using the NTBACKUP utility. To start the NTBACKUP utility, click Start, click Run and type ntbackup.

  2. Ensure that you are logged on to the schema master domain controller with an account that is a member of the Schema Admins security group.

    Important
    You must be logged on as a member of the Schema Admins security group in order to successfully extend the schema. Running the ExtADSch.exe file using the Run As command to attempt to extend the schema using alternate credentials will fail.
  3. Disconnect the schema master domain controller from the network.

  4. Run extadsch.exe, located at \SMSSETUP\BIN\I386 on the installation media, to add the new classes and attributes to the Active Directory schema.

  5. Verify that the schema extension was successful by reviewing the extadsch.log located in the root of the system drive.

  6. If the schema extension procedure was successful, reconnect the schema master domain controller to the network and allow it to replicate the schema extensions to the global catalog servers throughout the Active Directory forest.

  7. If the schema extension procedure was unsuccessful, restore the schema master's previous system state from the backup created in step 1. This will reverse the schema extension actions before reconnecting the schema master domain controller to the network.

    Note
    To restore the system state on a Windows domain controller, the system must be restarted in Directory Services Restore Mode. For more information about Directory Services Restore Mode, see Restart the Domain Controller in Directory Services Restore Mode Locally http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=75622

See Also