no it is not possible if you need to restore the 2003 will be restored only on windows 2k3 OS and same is with the 2k8
No, you cannot restore AD from 2003 to 2008 directly. You need to upgrade the AD infrastructure to 2008 (schema update).
Active Directory Recycle Bin helps minimize directory service downtime by enhancing your ability to preserve and restore accidentally deleted Active Directory objects without restoring Active Directory data from backups.By default, Active Directory Recycle Bin in Windows Server 2008 R2 is disabled. To enable Active Directory Recycle Bin, your environment must meet the requirements to completed scenarioused to restore object deleted form AD or restore Multi OUs.
Active Directory was previewed in 1999, released first with Windows 2000 Server edition, and revised to extend functionality and improve administration in Windows Server 2003. Additional improvements were made in Windows Server 2003 R2. Active Directory was refined further in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 and was renamed Active Directory Domain Services. Active Directory was called NTDS (NT Directory Service) in older Microsoft documents. This name can still be seen in some Active Directory binaries.
The DNS Server Role and the active directory is not installed till the adds service is started on the server 2008.if the service is not started(one needs to check the option under roles of the server)the active directory installation wont happen.this feature is only in 2008 not in 2003.The active directory works as service in 2008
Yes all domain controllers 2003, 2008 are writable except when its 2008 RODC..
User
Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM)tryrestartable Active Directory feature, which allows you to place the ndts.dit file in a offline mode without rebooting the domain controller outright.
No, you do not. You only install Active Directory if the system is going to be a domain controller. If it is a member server or a standalone server Active Directory should not be installed.
In Windows Server 2011 it is called Active Directory.
Active Directory Domain Services. in server 2008 AD work as a service
Active Directory Domains And Trusts console
ntds.dit