Gary Sender
10-25-2000, 09:29 AM
Newby question on domain controllers:
I created a child domain D1 for mycompany.com (for example).
If I created this child domain on server A (A.D1.mycompany.com), is it now the primary domain controller for the D1.mycompany.com ?
If so, I have server B (B.D1.mycompany.com) and wish it to be the primary domain controller. What should I do to make that switch? Also, what determines which server is the "default" domain controller, if this still applies to Win2k as opposed to NT where you could specify the Primary and Backup controllers?
Both servers are in the D1.mycompany.com domain, of course.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Sean Stecker
10-27-2000, 11:56 PM
Gary,
DC's are a little different under Windows 2000 than NT 4, yet some similarities. Your first DC is technically your "PDC" in that it assumes default FSMO roles in that domain. However, for purposes of managing the domain (user accounts, computer accounts, shares, etc), either DC will do the trick.
You state that it is a child domain D1.mycompany.com. In this example, let's hope that mycompany.com has already been upgraded to Windows 2000 DC's. If not, start over. Assuming mycompany.com has been upgraded, your original DC in D1, is the RID Master, PDC emulator (for downlevel NT clients and NT BDC's), and the Infrastructure Master for the D1.mycompany.com domain. The original DC in mycompany.com is also the Schema Master and the Domain Naming Master for the entire tree, or forest if applicable (see why it needs to be upgraded first?).
If you need to transfer the roles of DC's in D1.mycompany.com, ask why first. Is it because server B has better hardware (and by that I mean MUCH better), or is it because your VP likes the black colored server better than the ivory colored server, and wants it to be king? If it's the latter, tell him it can't be done. If it's the former...
Perform these steps from DC B:
1. Open AD users and computers
2. Right click your domain, and select Operations Masters
3. In the Operations Master dialog box, click the appropriate tab that represents the role you want to move and select Change.
Again, this is not needed unless you are specifically needing the other server to perform the role of master for those 3 areas (RID Master, PDC Emulator, Infrastructure Master). All domain administration can be done from either server, unlike NT 4. Isn't technology great?!
Again, if you haven't upgraded your top level domain mycompany.com, you've got bigger problems than the FSMO roles in D1.mycompany.com.
Good luck,
Sean Stecker
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Gary Sender at 10/25/00 10:29:35 AM
Newby question on domain controllers:
I created a child domain D1 for mycompany.com (for example).
If I created this child domain on server A (A.D1.mycompany.com), is it now the primary domain controller for the D1.mycompany.com ?
If so, I have server B (B.D1.mycompany.com) and wish it to be the primary domain controller. What should I do to make that switch? Also, what determines which server is the "default" domain controller, if this still applies to Win2k as opposed to NT where you could specify the Primary and Backup controllers?
Both servers are in the D1.mycompany.com domain, of course.
Thanks in advance for your help!