How can I format my master DC and make it master DC again?

[Charisma]

Hi,
I have two DC,one is master and root forest and another is
additional DC.I want to format and re install win2k on
master DC and make it again master DC,is it possible?If it
is please give me the best senario for it.
Thank you.

 

[Rahisuddin Shah]

Hi,
Yes this is possible.
You run the ntdsuti.exe on the additional DC and sieze all the master
operation from master DC. Re-install windows and run dcpromo to promote it
as DC and again ntdsutil.exe to sieze the master operation from additional
DC.
Instead of ntdsutil.exe you can use respective snap-in to change master
operation.

 

[Cary Shultz [A.D. MVP]]

Howdy! Howdy!

I might suggest that you avoid using the SEIZE procedure. Better might be
to use the TRANSFER procedure. You might also want to consider making the
second DC a Global Catalog server as well as a DNS Server ( and do not
forget to update DHCP so that your clients will have the correct
information ). Additionally, you might want to move over any other services
or user folders/files that the original DC might hold. It is a bit more
involved than simply using ntdsutil and seizing things. You only want to
use the seize procedure in extreme cases ( as the DC from which the FSMO
Role was seized can not really ever be on the network again ).

Additionally, do you want to completely 'wipe and load' your original DC as
you think that you have something wrong with the install

HTH,

Cary