redundant servers

[adamparker5355]

I am running a W2K3 domain controller with Active Directory, DNS, and DHCP (DC1). I would like to promote a second DC (DC2) as a roll over backup if DC1 were to fail. Is it suggested to use clustering or just promote a second server and have a different range of IP's handed out within DHCP?

Thanks in advance.

 

[bustamove]

it is recommended to have 2nd DC anyway, but no clustering, it'll bring more overhead if you are not familiar with it.

DHCP you dont need to worry, back it up and reload it to the new server when problem, you can manually construct the scopes too, won't take long

 

[Roadki11]

Agreed, no clustering. Make the second dc do everything the 1st dc does for seamless rollover. Make it a dns server, i would split out the dhcp also, maybe 30/70 split on the ips. Dont forget to make the 2nd dc a global catalog server also or clients wont authenticate to it. if you use roaming profiles and they are on the 1st dc move them off to a file server, folder redirects also should be moved off the dc if they are there. think about things on the 1st dc they would miss if it was down and move it off, file shares, printers, things like that.

RoadKi11

 

[58sniper]

Ditto on the 2nd DC/GC. Do a split DHCP as 80/20 (as Microsoft recommends) or 30/70 as Roadki11 recommends.

DCs should just do DC stuff, DNS, DHCP, GC, etc. As Roadki11 also recommends, don't put file shares on them.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[adamparker5355]

Thank you for all the answers.

DC1 is only running DNS, DHCP, Authentication, and Print server.

How do I make DC2 a Global Catalog Server?

Thanks.

 

[monsterjta]

By using the Active Directory Sites and Services console. Go to the NTDS Settings properties of the server, and check "Global Catalog". Allow time to replicate, and now server is GC.

I hope you find this post helpful,

Jonathan Almquist
Minneapolis, MN