Rebuilding the main Domain Controller

[Tom Rogers]

What is involved in rebuilding a current Domain Controller (our main one -
we have 2). Will I lose all my user accounts and printers, etc in the Active
Directory?

My 2nd Domain Controller is running DNS (backup), WINS (backup), and is a
Global Catalog server as well.

I need to re-format the main DC and reinstall the OS and all software - it
is in bad shape.

TIA,

-Tom

 

[Robert L [MS-MVP]]

How to restore AD In a case your only DC dies and you need to restore Active Directory from a ... Note: To verify Active Directory restore, restart the computer in Start ...
www.howtonetworking.com/Windows/restoread1.htm


active directory operations Active Directory Backup and Restore Considerations. This TechNet article explains components and guidelines necessary for the backup and restoration of ...
www.howtonetworking.com/articles/adoperations.htm



Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
What is involved in rebuilding a current Domain Controller (our main one -
we have 2). Will I lose all my user accounts and printers, etc in the Active
Directory?

My 2nd Domain Controller is running DNS (backup), WINS (backup), and is a
Global Catalog server as well.

I need to re-format the main DC and reinstall the OS and all software - it
is in bad shape.

TIA,

-Tom

 

[Richard G. Harper]

What I would do, in this order, is:

(1) If necessary, move DHCP to the backup server and retire it on the
primary server. Set up DHCP to point to the secondary server for DNS and
WINS name resolution. Renew all clients or wait until they all are using
the new WINS/DNS server.

(2) Transfer all FSMO roles from the primary server to the backup server.

(3) Wait at least 24 hours for all services to stabilize.

(4) Run DCPROMO and demote the main server.

(5) Disjoin the main server from the domain.

(6) Rebuild the main server as a member server.

(7) Run DCPROMO and promote it to an AD server.

(8) Move any desired roles and services back to the main server.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
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[seth]

he has 2 domain controllers; only 1 is being rebuilt
restoring active directory is not necessary
How to restore AD In a case your only DC dies and you need to restore Active Directory from a ... Note: To verify Active Directory restore, restart the computer in Start ...
www.howtonetworking.com/Windows/restoread1.htm


active directory operations Active Directory Backup and Restore Considerations. This TechNet article explains components and guidelines necessary for the backup and restoration of ...
www.howtonetworking.com/articles/adoperations.htm



Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
What is involved in rebuilding a current Domain Controller (our main one -
we have 2). Will I lose all my user accounts and printers, etc in the Active
Directory?

My 2nd Domain Controller is running DNS (backup), WINS (backup), and is a
Global Catalog server as well.

I need to re-format the main DC and reinstall the OS and all software - it
is in bad shape.

TIA,

-Tom