How to figure out First Schema Master in domain

[MC]

I have 3 DC with windows 2000 Active Directory, and I am not sure which one
was initially installed first.
So, How can I find which DC is the actual SCHEMA Master? (installed first?)

Thanks
MC

 

[Danny Sanders]

See:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/234790

FYI just because the server is the schema master that does not mean it was
installed first. The role can be transferred.

hth
DDS

 

[MC]

I have seen some articles that, even if schema master is transfered to
another DC, first DC that was install in the domain still holds some
information and any upgrade or change in the Active directory domain has to
happen in this first DC.

So there is no way to find out which DC installed first?
MC

 

[Danny Sanders]

I have seen some articles that, even if schema master is transfered to

another DC, first DC that was install in the domain still holds some
information and any upgrade or change in the Active directory domain has to
happen in this first DC.

That is wrong.

Here, when we upgraded to Win 2k3 from Win 2k, we ran adprep on the schema
master for the Win 2k domain. Later, after the Win 2k3 upgrade we went to R2
which requires adprep to be ran before you can use it. We had changed which
server was the schema master for the Win 2k3 domain. We had to run the R2
adprep on the new schema master for the Win 2k3 domain NOT the "old" schema
master.

So there is no way to find out which DC installed first?

That value is held here:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Installdate registry key.
You will need to convert the data from the dword value.


hth
DDS

 

[MC]

Thanks
MC

That is wrong.

Here, when we upgraded to Win 2k3 from Win 2k, we ran adprep on the schema
master for the Win 2k domain. Later, after the Win 2k3 upgrade we went to
R2 which requires adprep to be ran before you can use it. We had changed
which server was the schema master for the Win 2k3 domain. We had to run
the R2 adprep on the new schema master for the Win 2k3 domain NOT the
"old" schema master.


That value is held here:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Installdate registry
key. You will need to convert the data from the dword value.


hth
DDS

 

[Jorge de Almeida Pinto [MVP - DS]]

to find the FSMO role owners

NETDOM QUERY FSMO
you may need to install the support tools from MS