How do I promote a BDC to a PDC

[Bob Campos]

I am upgrading some servers and need to take a pdc and remove it. In
order to do this I need to take the BDC and make it the PDC. I have
unplugged the PDC from the lan and when I run dcpromo it won't allow
me to do anything.
I can't seem to find any technotes.
Should I put the PDC online and demote it first. If I do this will the PDC
automatically become the PDC?
Thanks in advance...
Bob

 

[Michael Holzemer]

I am upgrading some servers and need to take a pdc and remove it. In
order to do this I need to take the BDC and make it the PDC. I have
unplugged the PDC from the lan and when I run dcpromo it won't allow
me to do anything.
I can't seem to find any technotes.
Should I put the PDC online and demote it first. If I do this will
the PDC automatically become the PDC?

Based on your question it looks like you are using NT 4 but then you mention
dcpromo which would indicate W2K. If these are 2K machines the PDC - BDC
concept no longer applies as it did in NT 4. Dcpromo will not run unless the
machine is connected to the network. Here are some articles on upgrading
from NT 4

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298107&Product=nts40

http://windows.microsoft.com/window...ows2000/en/server/help/upgrading_a_domain.htm

If you are not doing a NT 4 upgrade then please provide more information

--
Regards,

Michael Holzemer
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[Bob Campos]

Well I have since Progressed and semi figured a few things out. the 2
systems are running 2K. I have changed the global catalog server to be
the 2nd Domain controller. I am in the process of taking server 1 and
demoting it or making it a member server... Do I have to do this or can
I just remove it???
Thanks Again

 

[Michael Holzemer]

Well I have since Progressed and semi figured a few things out. the 2
systems are running 2K. I have changed the global catalog server to
be the 2nd Domain controller. I am in the process of taking server 1
and demoting it or making it a member server... Do I have to do this
or can I just remove it???

Do not just remove a 2K domain controller, because it will leave DNS records
and metadata in active directory. So yes, you have to demote it or you will
run into other problems. By demoting it you will make it a member server. At
that point you can remove it from the domain.
I am basing my answer on the assumption you currently have 2 2K domain
controllers operating.

--
Regards,

Michael Holzemer
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[Guest]

Did that. Thanks... So is it the global catalog that clients see when
connecting to the domain?

 

[Michael Holzemer]

Did that. Thanks... So is it the global catalog that clients see
when connecting to the domain?

It is one aspect, but there is more to it. This link will explain the GC
better that I.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows200...chinfo/reskit/en-us/distrib/dsbb_act_qhlb.asp

This will help you with your AD questions
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr...prodtechnol/AD/windows2000/deploy/default.asp

--
Regards,

Michael Holzemer
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