Setting up a Second DC in 2003 SBS

[Rockabee]

Help required.

Having changed jobs recently I have inherited a network in need of restructuring and rebuilding. I have experience of Windows 2000 but none in Windows 2003.

I have purchased 2 new servers, one to act as the “first” Domain controller and Users Data store and a smaller, second one to act as an Exchange server for handling Email etc.

Server1 is a Domain controller of MyDomain.com with Windows 2003 Server running Active Directory

Server2 is running Windows 2003 Small Business Server with Exchange 2003

Question: Can I make Server2 another Domain controller of MyDomain.com or will the Small Business OS object? And if I can, how do I get round the seemingly problem area of having created the users in ADUC on server1 then having to recreate them again in Exchange on server2 even though I have managed to get the two machines talking to one another.

I have been unsuccessful so far and I am beginning to think that the 2 servers in their own domains is the way to go. One of the problems I got when I tried the first time was the smaller server taking over 2 hours to log in with the common “Hangs at Applying Computer Settings screen”, for which there seems no definitive answer.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

RB

Live each day as if it's your last, one day you're gonna be right.

 

[mrdenny]

SBS must be the first domain controller in the domain. (See tons of threads on the site about SBS.)

If you have two domain controllers new user accounts will be replicated between the domain controllers. If they aren't you've got problems.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com

(Not quite so old any more.)

 

[dkediger]

What you can do is stop the SBS install after the basic OS is installed - you have a Win2003 Standard server. Join it to the domain as a DC, let it sync up AD, and then grab the FSMO roles from the original DC.

At this point, disconnect one server or the other from the network and then continue the SBS component install.

You will need to demote the original server back to a member server before you rejoin it into the SBS domain.

There should be some MS technotes on this, I just don't have them at hand.