PDC

[Arsen]

In my infrastructure I have about 50 dc's but only one PDC.... well there is
probably suppose to be only one PDC, or else they wouldn't call it primary
domain controller.. my question is what happens when my PDC that has all the
FIZMO roles (if that's how you spell it) dies. is there a way to create
another server that will automatically pick up these roles as soon as my PDC
is dead? and if there is... where can I find the info on how to do it?

thanks a bunch guys. you have been really helpful..

 

[Richard McCall [MSFT]]

It failover of the fsmo roles is not automatic. It is changed by either
demotion of the DC holding the role or the manual transfer of the role. In
cases where the role holder is no longer available and will not be coming
back online you can force another server to seize the roles.

255504 Using Ntdsutil.exe to Seize or Transfer FSMO Roles to a Domain
Controller
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=255504
255690 HOW TO: View and Transfer FSMO Roles in the Graphical User Interface
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=255690

 

[Richard Moreno]

In Windows 2000 and 2003, AD is a multi-master environment whereas there
really is no "PDC" anymore. Every DC is authorative and can make changes to
the database. There are 5 FSMO aka Operations Master roles in any AD Forest
and one of them being PDC Emulator. The PDC Emulator is mainly for downlevel
clients and for instances where you have a mixed mode domain. It's other
main purpose is the focal point for lockouts and such. In disaster recovery
you would have to seize any FSMO roles from the failed DC and then you would
have to clean your database and site topology to remove the dead server from
being registered and then rebuild the failed DC. Here's some articles:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;255504
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;223787
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;283595

--
Thanks,
Richard Moreno
MCSE NT4\2000, MCSA 2000

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

 

[Arsen]

So from what you are saying, a BDC (backup domain controller) is really
another domain controller that can take the fsmo roles anytime that is
needed..

 

[Richard Moreno]

In a W2K AD environment, yes, all DC's are equal. You must eliminate the
mentality of PDC and BDC's in this new technology. That was only related to
the old NT 3.x and 4.0 platforms.

--
Thanks,
Richard Moreno
MCSE NT4\2000, MCSA 2000

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

 

[David Brandt [MSFT]]

Just to reiterate again a point made in an earlier post, any dc can become
the "pdc" if the role is transfered to it, but if that machine goes
down/away, that role will not automatically move to another dc, and must be
transfered to it manually. If the pdc will only be down for a short time,
it may not be necessary to move it, but if for extended periods, and/or if
it is being removed, move it to another dc prior to its being removed.

--
David Brandt
Microsoft Corporation

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Please do not send e-mail directly to this alias. This alias is for
newsgroup purposes only.

 

[Jordan]

Following will be good reading for you:

Win2K ResKit - Distributed Sytem Guide - Chapter 7 Managing Flexible
Single-Master Operations
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/distsys/part1/dsgch07.asp