Operations Master Demotion

[Alex]

Hi All

I would just like to clarify something before i risk
wiping a domain out.

When the global catalogue, DHCP, DNS and all 5 FSMO roles
have been transfered from the Operations master DC to a
second DC, would that make the second DC the OM. And would
i then be able to Demote the Original OM to a member
server?

I really need to make sure this is correct because I know
that it you demote the OM it wipes out the domain
completely even on other DC's within the domain.


Thnaks All

Alex

 

[Paul Bergson]

Yes. If you have any type of licensing then you would want to move that as
well.

 

[Cary Shultz [A.D. MVP]]

Alex,

Maybe I am misunderstanding you. If you demote the Operations Master ( as
you call it ) it does not wipe out the domain completely -IF- there is at
least one other Domain Controller within that specific domain. If you
dcpromo that DC ( the OM ) and it holds all five of the FSMO Roles then part
of the dcpromo process will automagically transfer those five FSMO Roles to
a remaining, existing Domain Controller. While I typically like to manually
transfer the roles myself ( either via ntdsutil or via the respective MMCs )
it is going to happen!

Now, where your point is well taken is if the remaining Domain Controllers
do not have DNS installed and there is not at least one other DC that is
also a Global Catalog Server. While this simply makes things more
interesting, it is very easy to fix.....

So, I would make sure that everything is nicely transferred to another DC
and then wait a couple of days before you dcpromo the former OM. That is,
unless there is something somewhat serious going on and you are not
mentioning it.....

Also, I might take this opportunity to suggest to you that you install the
Support Tools on all of your WIN2000 Servers and that you take a look at
ADModify. These tools will greatly enhance your ability to quickly and
efficiently take care of things.

HTH,

Cary