Change Active Directory Forest Mode With A Script

Changing the Forest Mode in Active Directory can be scripted. I find this useful when regression testing such tasks in a sandbox (e.g. restore image, automate login, change mode, run tests, etc). The script is very simple. First, you’ll import he ActiveDirectory modules:

Import-Module -Name ActiveDirectory

Then you’ll check for the mode prior to running:

Get-ADForest | Format-Table ForestMode

Then you’ll change the forest and domain modes (one per line):

Set-ADForestMode –Identity “krypted.com” –ForestMode Windows2008Forest
Set-ADDomainMode –Identity “krypted.com” –DomainMode Windows2008Domain

Then you’ll report the result:

Get-ADForest | Format-Table Name , ForestMode

The end result could be as simple as three lines if just testing:

Import-Module -Name ActiveDirectory
Set-ADForestMode –Identity “krypted.com” –ForestMode Windows2008Forest
Set-ADDomainMode –Identity “krypted.com” –DomainMode Windows2008Domain