Schema Preparation

Topic Last Modified: 2010-12-13

To prepare the schema for Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), you run the Prepare Schema step in the Lync Server Deployment Wizard. Click Run to begin the preparation of the schema. The Prepare Schema step reads the supplied schema definition files in the \Program Files\Microsoft Lync Server 2010\Deployment\Setup directory on the system that the Deployment Wizard is running on. These files are also available on the installation media in the \Support\Schema directory. The Prepare Schema step will extend the schema and report the status of the process. It will also notify you when the process is complete. The summary screen will allow you to view the logs of the process. Review the logs to ensure that the preparation was complete and successful.

Important:
To extend the schema, you must be logged into the domain as a member of the Schema Admins group and the Enterprise Admins group.

Classes and attributes are added to extend the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) schema to support Microsoft Lync Server 2010 server, service and user objects. Before extending the schema, you should take a System State backup of the domain controller that holds the schema master role. For details on the backup process for Windows Server 2008 operating system, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=207197. For Windows Server 2008 R2, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=207198. For Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=207199.

Caution:
Extending the schema is not reversible. You should make all efforts to limit the potential impact of a failed schema extension. All reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the extension of the schema will be successful. This is a critical step that can have negative consequences in the event of loss of communication or other failure at the server. You should perform a backup of the schema master domain controller and a complete backup of the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). To ensure that you limit the impact of a potential failed schema extension, do the following: Disconnect the domain controller that holds the schema master role from the network. Perform a System State backup of the domain controller that holds the schema master. Extend the schema. When the schema extension is successful, reconnect the domain controller to the network and ensure that replication is active and working. In the unlikely event of a schema extension failure, restore the systems state of the domain controller and AD DS by using the system state backup that you took earlier.

Caution:

Extending the schema is not reversible. You should make all efforts to limit the potential impact of a failed schema extension. All reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the extension of the schema will be successful. This is a critical step that can have negative consequences in the event of loss of communication or other failure at the server. You should perform a backup of the schema master domain controller and a complete backup of the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). To ensure that you limit the impact of a potential failed schema extension, do the following:

Disconnect the domain controller that holds the schema master role from the network.
Perform a System State backup of the domain controller that holds the schema master.
Extend the schema.
When the schema extension is successful, reconnect the domain controller to the network and ensure that replication is active and working.
In the unlikely event of a schema extension failure, restore the systems state of the domain controller and AD DS by using the system state backup that you took earlier.

Note:
If at any time you need to review the log files that are created by the Lync Server Deployment Wizard, you can find them on the computer where the Deployment Wizard was run in the Users directory of the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) user who ran the step. For example, if the user logged in as the domain administrator in the domain Contoso.net, the log files are located in: C:\Users\Administrator.Contoso\AppData\Local\Temp

Note:

If at any time you need to review the log files that are created by the Lync Server Deployment Wizard, you can find them on the computer where the Deployment Wizard was run in the Users directory of the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) user who ran the step. For example, if the user logged in as the domain administrator in the domain Contoso.net, the log files are located in:

C:\Users\Administrator.Contoso\AppData\Local\Temp