Setting up a Domain Controller for remote site

[IS300]

I'm about to setup 13 domain controllers at remote sites. Most of the sites will have just a handful of users, while at most three will have probably about 20.

We are just going with one domain, one forest, having it nice and simple. We will be setting the DC's in their own sites, and they will replicate only with the head office DC, not with the other sites. Replication will be done through ADSL line and might occur at night, but I haven't decided yet.

Now, my question is, would it be best to move the servers to the site first, then make it a domain controller, DNS, DHCP, etc.. or can I safely set them up here and then move then out? I've been doing a lot of reading on this and so far it's a split between the two methods.

Please let me know what your opinions are on this.

Thanks!

 

[wallst32]

If your AD is large, I would say do it locally and then move the servers so the initial replication won't take as long.

Aside from that, I don't see any pros/cons with doing it either way. The biggest concern might be the fact that the IP address will change, but all the the key domain controller DNS records are updated dynamically anyways.