Is there a way to demote a PDC from Domain2 to a BDC in Domain1? If I can do THAT then I can install Win2k, DCPromo, and have users and groups and rights available, right?
Sorry IBI, but what you are describing will not work. Domain controllers are siamese twins with other domain controllers IN THEIR OWN DOMAINS. You can add one by installing a new one. You can remove one, by reformatting/reinstalling the OS. You cannot move a BDC from one domain to another. The BDC always has a copy of the domain SAM and shares the domain SID with the PDC. There isn't a mechanism for swapping one SAM and SID for another.
You can change the "domain name" on a BDC, but this doesn't change the actual domain. The only time you would want to change that name is when you are changing the name on all the DC's at once. Again, the name is cosmetic, it's the underlying domain SID that matters. That can't be changed without using unsupported 3rd party tools.
This is a big hassle, and always has been, and is one reason why you should upgrade to Windows2000 or .Net ....(or Lindows Server (
HI Schackdaddy,
if you change first PDC's domain, after all BDC's domain and syncronize SAM database you haven't any problem.
In windows NT, a domain is uniquely identified by both a NetBIOS name and by a SID.Most Access Control List and other security features of windows identify the domain by a SID;therefore, it is possible to change the name of the domain with little distruption to network services.
I have just do it and I haven't any problem ...
As ShackDaddy said, the main problem with moving the BDC is that it shares a common SID and security Database with the PCD. The recomended path for moving a server acting as PCD from one domain to another is reformatting and installing a new OS in the new domain.
However, there are some utilites that allow BDC's to be moved from one domain to another. One utiliy I know of is a freeware called NEwSID from sysinternals.
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