Multiple Sites

[Guest]

I have a client that has a windows 2003 domain setup in a single location.
However, they are growing and are putting a new office in IL. So, they will
have two locations. The new office in IL will not have an IT person on staff
so they want to have a single location to handle most of the administration.
They want that location to be their current office in WI. I believe the
solution for this would be to configure a new server and make it part of the
domain as an AD server. However, I would need to create a second site and
have it put in that site. Is there a document that talks about creating
sites and configuring this?
To complicate things a bit, they are going to be connected via frame relay.
However, the frame relay will not be installed for about 1 month. However,
the office opens up in 2 weeks and they want to have the server installed
when the office opens. Can I setup the new server at the main office in WI,
put it in it's own site, allow it to replicate, and then move it to IL,
change the IP address and allow the users to begin logging in? I realize
that no replication will take place during this time. However, when the
frame relay comes on-line, will it then automatically begin replicating with
the server in WI?
Any help and suggestions you can give me on this would be greatly
appreciated! Thank you in advance.

 

[Dave Shaw [MVP - Directory Services]]

No. Under no circumstances should you ever install a domain controller that
cannot communicate with other DCs in that domain or forest. Wait until the
frame is installed to put up your new server in the new site or configure a
temporary telco link to provide connectivity. Although the server *will*
authenticate users if placed in that location - the risk of "orphaning" the
server is a real problem you don't want to face. Don't do it.

The Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit has all the information you will need
about creating Sites and installing servers:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/reskit/deploykit.mspx

-ds

 

[Cary Shultz [A.D. MVP]]

Joe,

Setting up Sites in the Active Directory Sites and Services MMC is a very
simple thing to do. You simply create a Site, give it a proper name and
then create a Subnet and associate that Subnet with the correct Site. I
would then create a DC in that physical Site ( if possible ). If that is
not possible, then there are no problems. You simply create it in your
other Site ( it would need an IP Address that fits in with the Site in which
it is going to physically reside ). Then simply ship it to the other Site.
Once there you will need to change the IP Address so that it fits in with
the IP scheme of that site ( as set up in Sites and Services MMC ).

However, I would never never never set up a DC and then send it to a Site
where the connection is not already in place. You are asking for problems.
Too many things can go wrong, be delayed, whatever. There is a problem that
is really hard to overcome if your DC is not connected to the network (
read: replicating with other Domain Controllers ) for 60 days ( the
default ).

There are two types of replication in Active Directory: intrasite and
intersite. Intrasite replication happens with the Domain Controllers that
are in one Site. Intersite replication happens between one 'special' DC
from one Site and one 'special' DC in another Site. These 'special' DCs are
called Bridgehead Servers ( BHS ). If there is no link established between
WI and IL then there will be no intersite replication and you will not be a
happy camper. I would strongly suggest that you reconsider your thought
process.

Please do not misunderstand this but you might want to do a little more
reading before you do all of this. It seems that there are some very basic
things that might be foreign to you. Please understand that I am not being
a poopy head! Just not sure that you have a grasp on the things necessary.
It is a good sign, though, that you are in the NGs and asking these
questions. You can not know everything. There is just sooooo much to know!

If you have further questions then please please please feel free to ask.

--
Cary W. Shultz
Roanoke, VA 24014
Microsoft Active Directory MVP

http://www.activedirectory-win2000.com
http://www.grouppolicy-win2000.com