How to remove a dead server

[JBM]

Hi All:
We have three servers with WIN2k Adv Server with latest service paks. All of
them are domain controllers. Server ABCD2001 died. I need to remove it from
active directory and then re-create it.

Please advice how to do this step by step.

Thanks
JBM

 

[Harj]

Hi,

What other services were running on this machine..i.e. DNS, DHCP, DFS,
FSMO, CA...
If you were unable to demote this machine you will have to perform a
metadata cleanup to remove the server from AD.

How to remove data in Active Directory after an unsuccessful domain
controller demotion
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/216498/

Using Ntdsutil.exe to transfer or seize FSMO roles to a domain
controller
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255504/


Very important to make sure we remove all instances of this server from
Active Directory if we are going to bring this back with the same name
or same ip address.
Pay a close attention where it mentions ADSIedit and also search
everywhere in DNS that we have removed everything in AD.

Make sure that this machine was not the only Global Catalog server in
the environment.

Good luck

Harj Singh
Power Your Active Directory Investment
www.specopssoft.com

 

[JBM]

Hi Mr. Singh:
Many thanks for your answer. This machine is not the ones with FSMo roles.
Also it was not the only global catalog server. It was one of the 3 domain
controllers. It died completely. I will not have another server with this
name (ABCD2001). I would like to remove it. How should I proceed.

Thanks
JBM

 

[Harj]

Hi JBM,

If the other Domain controllers have DNS installed on them and they are
not pointed to this "dead server" for DNS. If the clients are not
pointed to this "dead server" for anything i.e DNS, FILES you can
safely follow the following article to remove it from AD.

How to remove data in Active Directory after an unsuccessful domain
controller demotion
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/216498/

Like I mentioned pay very close attention to where it talks about DNS
and ADSIedit.
Scoure DNS to make sure there are no enteries for the dead server on
the other DNS servers.
After all the above is done, make sure within Sites and Services on the
other machines that there are no connection objects in there (KCC will
end up removing them automatically) but I delete them during the
metadata process.

You should be good to go.

Good luck
Harj Singh
Power Your Active Directory Investment
www.specopssoft.com