Domain Controller and Global Catalogue servers

[Stevehewitt]

What is the difference between a gloabal catalogue server, and a DC? I know a GCS (Global Catalogue Server) stores domain logon info, usernames/passwords/user rights etc, but what about a DC?

Any ideas? Steve Hewitt
IT Administrator

Windows 2000 Microsoft Certified System Engineer

http://welcome.to/stevehewitt

 

[peterve]

a domain controller contains all information of all objects in the AD of the current domain
A global catalog server contains only a small part of the information of all domains !

In a native mode network, the GC server is also needed for logging on, because it will provide group information to the DC that is authenticating the user...
Take this into account when designing your GC topology! Peter Van Eeckhoutte
peter.ve@pandora.be

 

[Guest_imported]

The Global catalogue's main purpose is to provide minimal object info across Domain Controllers of Trees and Forests. It provides replications of a portion of active directory's across the entire organization. It brings the basic info on organizational objects to Domain Controllers across the entire org. with out eating up the huge bandwidth that would be taken up by replicating the entire Active Directory. A Domain COntroller is simply a Server with Active Directory. Global catalogue IS required by WIN 2000 for log on. Many admins in smaller organizations that don't require Global Catalogue's are upset over this waste of resources. They do not need global Catalogue. The next version of Win Server (2002) will eliminate this need for Global catalogues for log on especially if you only have one Domain or so.

 

[peterve]

I don't think you need a GC to log on in mixed mode, only in native mode Peter Van Eeckhoutte
peter.ve@pandora.be

 

[Guest_imported]

I am not sure of the need for GLobal Catalogue for log-on for native vs mixed but I do know that you do lose some of the funtionality of active directory in mixed mode so it does make sense that the global catalogue is not used in the same way for either. I think one of the improvements of Win NT 4.0 versus Win NT 2000 is the funtionality of AD but only in Native Mode. I know in mixed mode universal groups do not exist nor does group nesting.

 

[Stevehewitt]

Right, so how do I create a Global Catalogue, but not a Domain Controller, cause surely you need AD on the GC, which means you have to use the Domain Controller Promotion (DCPROMO) command to install AD which promotes the member server to a DC.
Steve Hewitt
IT Administrator

Windows 2000 Microsoft Certified System Engineer

http://welcome.to/stevehewitt

 

[Guest_imported]

I believe the GLobal Catalogue is created when the first Domain Controller is created. I think it is pretty much invisible to the admin. IT is there automatically. You do not have a choice to install or uninstall Global Catalogue with this version on Server. GC is a part of Active Directory. Up and coming versions will eliminate necesity for GC for login when it is not needed.

 

[Guest_imported]

GLobal Catalogue should be present once a DC exists.