How do I know if both DC's are replicating?

[Shadowfax1]

Hi, how do I know if both DC's are replicating? We have 2 Windows 2003 Domain Controllers, but don't if or when they repicate....

Kind Regards

Andy

 

[AlexIT]

Check event logs for NTFRS (File Replication Service) It will tell you when the last synch was.

Alex

 

[Shadowfax1]

10 days ago

 

[mlichstein]

Check event logs for NTFRS (File Replication Service) It will tell you when the last synch was"

Huh?

If you are talking about active directory replication, domain controllers in the same site will replicate every five minutes. If they weren't able to replicate, you would see plenty of errors and warnings in the directory services log.

The easiest way to tell if AD replication is working is to use the "repadmin /showreps" command. This is a tool included in the Windows 2000 support tools. If you see any failures in this report, you would want to investigate further.

 

[technome]

What you really want is Microsoft's replmon.exe, with this you can really monitor replication.

http://snakefoot.fateback.com/tweak/winnt/files/win2ksp3st.htm

 

[mlichstein]

replmon is the GUI version of repadmin, and the 2003 version is actually far more powerful. With the addition of the repadmin /experthelp switches, you can monitor, diagnose, and modify every apsect of AD replication.

 

[Shadowfax1]

Thanks looks like it's all working, seems your guys know your stuff, so I will ask a couple more questions, hope you don't mind...(this is a test lab only)

1.) Are there any other useful tools or areas I can check everything is ok?

2.) If I turn the first DC in the domain off no one can log on, I assumed everyone would log on to the second DC?

Kind regards

Andy

 

[mlichstein]

Is the second DC running DNS? Is the second DC a global catalog?

 

[Shadowfax1]

I have ticked the GC box and now all is fine. Also do you know much about the ADC tool, we are going to be using Exchnage 5.5 for a bit until we move to 2003, do we need to use ADC?

 

[mlichstein]

I dont know much about ADC, but I'm 99% sure you will need the ADC to migrate from 5.5 to 2003.

 

[AlexIT]

When moving from Exchange 5.5 to 2k or 2003 you must have ADC. The newer exchanges are very integrated with the AD.

Alex

 

[xmsre]

If you're not replicating, you'll see 1265 and 1645 in the directory service log.