PDC replacement / backup

[Dan]

Hi,

I have come to realize that I am pushing my luck with my current PDC
(primary domain controller) as it has been up and running full time
since 2000. I am looking to see if I can allow a machine that is
running windows XP pro to serve as a backup PDC that will run
concurrently with my current PDC (so that if my current PDC goes down
suddenly, there is no down time). Can this be done with a windows xp
pro machine? If so can you direct me to a website that explains the
process or describe it yourself? (please don't say Google it as I
already have) Also, what would be a good permanent solution with
regards to replacing my current PDC with a brand new one (there are
approximately 20 users on my network - and I prefer Dell).

Any help anyone can give me will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Daniel

 

[Dan]

You cannot use XP Pro as a backup DC. Are you running NT4? If not, there
are no PDC's anymore, just DC's. If it's Windows 2000, you can get brand
new copies on eBay cheap.

Kurt

Is it possible to use a Suse Linux machine as the backup DC on a
windows NT4 network? If so how? If you haven't already noticed, I am
not very knowledgeable in this area of networking. I am simpling
looking for a way to ensure no down time in the likely event that my
current DC fails, without purchasing new hardware.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Daniel

 

[Dan]

No, however your options may be better with a single Samba PDC than with
a single Windows PDC. Samba uses configuration files that are well
documented. Backing up a Samba server is sure-fire, and restoring from
backup works. A modern Linux box can be brought up from bare metal
faster than a Windows server, and restoring the configuration files
makes it behave exactly like the old one. Beware, though, you're working
without a GUI, without help files, and with some known issues. If you've
never done this, don't even think about trying it out for the first time
in a production environment.

But to answer your question, Samba only supports a PDC, no BDCs.

Your best altenative is to back up the PDC (by cloning the drive/raid
with ghost, acronis, etc). Then restore that to a new single drive (or a
new RAID). Make sure the drive boots up when you put it in the old
server, then (with your two eBay legal copies of Windows 2000 Server -
about $150 for a 25 CAL and $50 for a second 5-CAL copy, for a total of
30 CALS), upgrade the NT4 to W2K in place. Then on a new computer, do a
clean install of W2K, join it to the domain, promote it to a DC.
Transfer the FSMO roles from the upgraded NT4 box to the new, clean W2K
server. Demote the old NT4 server to a member-server, unjoin it from the
domain and retire it. Bring up another new computer (with the copy of
W2K server that is no longer in use on the retired NT4 box)and promote
it as the second DC. If it all goes to hell at any point, you can always
put the old drive(s) back into the old box and your NT4 domain will
still be there.

Kurt

Sounds like a lot of work and it still requires a bit of down time
(during the NT4 to W2K upgrade). Is W2K the best option for the
operating system or is there a better (newer) choice? I think you are
correct in saying that this is my best alternative. The only other
thought that I had was that I might just be able to clone the DC's
hard drives and buy a new server ~ when the old server crashes, all I
have to do is put the cloned drives into the new server and presto im
in business again.

I really appreciate your help on this Kurt.

Daniel