DNS/Active Directory Replication

[archer46]

I have a server running Windows 2000 server with incorrect DNS settings which screwed up Active Directory. What I want to do is set up a second computer running Windows 2000 Advanced Server, set it up with the correct DNS and Active Directory settings, and then replicate it to the existing 2000 server. Will this work? Is it possible to have Advanced Server wipe out the old configuration and reset DNS and Active Directory to the new configuration?

Thanks in advance.

 

[archer46]

One more thing... assuming this replacement replication can work, I would want to make the 2000 server computer the PDC and the 2000 Advanced server the BDC. Would that also be possible?

 

[hkunnana]

Was the active directory installtion "dcpromo" successful?

Do you already have active dirctory data (users, groups,...etc.), or is it a fresh installation ?

In W2K there is nothing (really) called BDC, all Domain controllers do (almost) the same rule.

If the active dirctory configuration or the DNS is missed-up, most propably you will not be able to install a second server as a domain controller that has a valid replica of the AD.

my advice is if you have fresh installtion of no AD data to worry about is start over. Remove active directory from the 1st server, (you don't propably need to format it !), then make sure the DNS server is working correctly.

If you already have AD data then
1- make sure the DNS is operational.
2- make sure your server is configured to use that DNS.
3- in the DNS make sure dynamic registration is enabled in the zone of your domain.
4- either use the command "ipconfig /registerdns" , or better restart the server

after that hopefully you will get the AD operational.

 

[archer46]

Maybe I wasnt clear I what I wanted to do.

I am in the process of doing a fresh format and install of 2000 Advanced server. Can I set up DNS and AD while being physically disconnected from the network, and then reconnect and transfer all the DNS and AD settings from the fresh install to the messed up 2000 server?

The 2000 server already has DNS and AD running, but the settings are wrong and dcpromo will not let me demote the server because there is no domain to connect to. Because of the messed up DNS info, the computer was somehow set up as a DC with a domain it cant connect to (doesn't exist). Therefore, when dcpromo tries to authenticate the administrator for the domain, it cant find the domain (because it doesnt exist).

So - can replication wipe out an existing DNS and AD and replace it?

 

[archer46]

Maybe I wasnt clear about I what I wanted to do.

I am in the process of doing a fresh format and install of 2000 Advanced server. Can I set up DNS and AD while being physically disconnected from the network, and then reconnect and transfer all the DNS and AD settings from the fresh install to the messed up 2000 server?

The 2000 server already has DNS and AD running, but the settings are wrong and dcpromo will not let me demote the server because there is no domain to connect to. Because of the messed up DNS info, the computer was somehow set up as a DC with a domain it cant connect to (doesn't exist). Therefore, when dcpromo tries to authenticate the administrator for the domain, it cant find the domain (because it doesnt exist).

So - can replication wipe out an existing DNS and AD and replace it?