Global Catalog Server

[Andrew]

Hi All,

I have read that a global catalog server is required to process logon
requests.

If you have multiple domain controllers for a given domain, does this mean
that both require to be Catalog Servers in order for the domain to process
logins whilst one of the domain controllers is unavailable?

E.G. DC1 is the catalog server, DC2 is not a catalog server. If DC1 goes
offline, will clients be able to login using DC2?


Regards,
Andrew

 

[Andrei Ungureanu]

answer to your last question: if it's not a global catalog, NO

In a single domain scenario you can make all your DCs global catalogs.


--
Regards,
Andrei Ungureanu
www.eventid.net
Free Windows event logs reports

http://www.altairtech.ca/evlog/

 

[Andrew]

So they both need to be GC's in order to allow the secondary to authenticate
logins? Well im glad i know that, thanks!

I have heard that having many GC's can create bandwidth issues due to
replication, is that correct?

Andrew

 

[Andrei Ungureanu]

in a single domain scenario there's no need to worry.

--
Regards,
Andrei Ungureanu
www.eventid.net
Free Windows event logs reports

http://www.altairtech.ca/evlog/

 

[Enkidu]

in a single domain scenario there's no need to worry.

In a single *site* scenario, surely? Though it should not be
a problem if there aren't too many satellite sites.

Cheers,

Cliff

 

[Herb Martin]

Hi All,

I have read that a global catalog server is required to process logon
requests.

Not always true -- it is true of Native+ mode.

If you have multiple domain controllers for a given domain, does this mean
that both require to be Catalog Servers in order for the domain to process
logins whilst one of the domain controllers is unavailable?

No, and in a large multi-domain forest you should think of GCs
as something you need PER SITE (they are really a forest wide
job).

But in such large forests there are likely many domains so they
GCs can be fault tolerant without every DC being a GC.

BUT, in a small forest, especially a single-domain forest you
should generally just make every DC a GC.

E.G. DC1 is the catalog server, DC2 is not a catalog server. If DC1 goes
offline, will clients be able to login using DC2?

Perhaps, but there is no reason to do that in a small forest or
any single-domain forest.

Just make them all GCs.

 

[Cary Shultz]

Also, just to throw this in....there is a way to make logon possible in a
WIN2000 environment without any GCs. Please see the following MSKB
Article -

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=241789

--
Cary W. Shultz
Roanoke, VA 24012

http://www.activedirectory-win2000.com
(soon to be updated!!!)
http://www.grouppolicy-win2000.com
(soon to be updated!!!)