PDC running on Windows 2000 1

[Peach66]

I have windows 2000 server that was running as a primary domain controller, active directory, dns and dhcp. The hard drive failed and now I have to rebuild it from scratch. I was told that you can't re-install and name it the same as before because it can cause problems. How do re-introduce the primary controller to the network that has a BDC running? Should I promote the BDC instead?

 

[CluelessJon]

Excellent

Promote the BDC that is what its there for, just these situations. Get the other server up and running as a bdc then convert that back to the PDC when u are happy.

Good luck

Regards

Jonno BrainDump Specialist
MCSE(NT) MCSA(2k) CCNA

 

[Davetoo]

How do you convert a BDC to PDC and a PDC to a BDC in W2K?

(I know there are no BDC's and PDC's in a W2K AD environment...trick question).

If you already had another AD server running, you need to seize the FSMO roles to take control of the network from the failed AD server.

I'm Certifiable, not certified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.

 

[caddnima]

I just wish you have a backup of that server drive OS. You can easily do this by cloning it. And then when something happens, pop up a new drive and retrieve the files from the cloned drive. Probably one hour tops.

Now about PDC and BDC, I thought, you dont have these anymore on Windows 2000. I am very confused...

 

[Peach66]

No PDC, BDC. Now I'm confused. Doesn't AD need a domain controller?

If I lose the main server and I have another server that seems to be taking over. I'm able to add/change users. Now it's not working completely because the group policies are not present, but everyone is able to login and access servers. I'm really confused with how AD works. The worst part is. I want to re-install the crashed server, but afraid that when I introduce it as a domain controller, it causes problems with the existing server. Has anyone had this problem?

 

[jfwebber]

In a Windows 2000 domain running Active Directory, there is not a PDC or a BDC. All domain controllers are equal with the exception of the FSMO role(s) they may hold.

It is always a good idea to have two DC in your domain. That way if you lose one all you need to do is seize the FSMO role(s) that the crashed server was holding, if any, onto the other DC and all is well.

This KB article will explain how to seize the FSMO roles;

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=255504.

Once you have done the above and all references of the crashed DC have been removed from AD, you then can reintroduce the crashed server into your domain. Here is an article that will help you clean-up Active Directory;

http://asia.cnet.com/itmanager/netadmin/0,39006400,39047794,00.htm

Jim

Jim Webber
Network Administrator MCSE CNA

 

[ratbs75]

Slainte35: u said:

"In a Windows 2000 domain running Active Directory, there is not a PDC or a BDC" well, does it means that in Win2k you CAN have PDC/BDC, but once U have AD running, DC can't coexist on the same server?

thnx in advance....

 

[jfwebber]

A W2K server can be a member server in an NT4.0 domain, but once the NT4.0 domain is upgraded to W2K AD, the notion of PDC/BDC does not exist.

Im not sure what you mean by this statement, "...but once U have AD running, DC can't coexist on the same server?"

Jim

Jim Webber
Network Administrator MCSE CNA

 

[CluelessJon]

urghhh Sorry Peach

Course there is NO pdc or PDC on aWin 2k network .. I am working on Nt4.0 all this week and LOst the Plot

My apologies for INCORRECT info =/


Regards

Jonno BrainDump Specialist
MCSE(NT) MCSA(2k) CCNA

 

[spazmahoney]

You will have to seize the FSMO roles.

Spaz, MCSE