remove DC

[Fredrik]

We have a child domain with 3 domain controllers and I want to remove one of
the servers and keep only 2. How is the best way to do this in steps? This
DC have no role except global catalog. The server is also dns server
(integrated in AD). And the server belongs to a site which contains only
this server.

 

[Dave Shaw [MVP]]

Remove/migrate the services from the DC you wish to decommission. Ensure
for some time that all clients are connecting to other servers and all other
services are functioning properly on the other servers. Run DCPROMO to
remove the server's DC role. Shutdown the server. Remove its computer
object from the domain.

-ds

 

[Chriss3]

Fredrik run DCROMO to demote the particular Domain Controller and remove it
successfully from Active Directory. How ever you may configure another
server as global catalog server and make sure another DNS Zone for the
particular domain exists and clients and servers TCP/IP Settings are
reconfigured to match the new DNS Server if needed.

 

[Fredrik]

If i have a dns server with a dns zone on this server, must I remove
something of that before dcpromo? How?

 

[Chriss3]

No, just make sure another DNS server with the same zone exist in your
environment.

 

[Fredrik]

It seems to work. One thing I can see still is that the server is listed
under sites and services with the other servers. Must this be deleted
manually? Is it more "places" that should be checked so everything about the
old DC server is gone?

 

[Chriss3]

Fredrik you are correct, it have to be deleted from sites and services
manually. If the demotion was successfully during DCPROMO it only have to be
deleted in sites and services to be complete gone from Active Directory. How
ever make sure you clean up DNS after pointing records to the demounted
Domain Controller.

Have a nice day!