Replication Topology Problems

[David Ambokadze]

I have problem with replication topology of the Active Directory. The
history is:

I have a multi-domain forest with a root domain at the HQ, and domain trees
at Branches. I created a new domain tree for the new branch office and
installed a new domain controller, BUT everything I done at HQ site, and
everything was OK, all replications done successfully. Then I got this DC at
the Branch Office, installed second DC, demoted the first one, and came back
to the HQ. Then I found problems with AD Sites and Services tool. I don't
see a new Branch DC under the appropriate branch Site, therefore NO
replications from the Branch Office Site are made. The first DC which I have
demoted, has only "Server" object under the Branch Site, no NTDS object is
there, because it is aleady demoted. I have installed the second server for
the Branch Domain, but it has replicated only from the existing DC, and no
replication link is created for this new DC in the "AD Sites and Services"
at the HQ Root server. The "Server" objects exist only on the Branch DCs,
but not on HQ DCs!!! DNS settings are all correct on all DNS Servers in the
forest, and the zones are transferred also correctly. I seams that the
domain topology has not replicated from the Branch Domain, due to some
problems.
Can anyone help me to create appropriate "Server" objects and NDTS objects
for the new Site at the HQ DCs??? I have tried to do it with RepAdmin tool,
but without success, it tries to create NTDS object for the server which
doesn't exist in the AD Configuration and get error.

 

[Paul Bergson {MCT, MCSE}]

It seems your "cleanest" option may be to remove all server object related
to this site dcpromo any servers back to member servers (dcpromo
/forceremoval if need be). Ntdsutil to clean up any server remnants and
then repromote a server. Once promotion is complete make sure you have your
IP Sub-Nets, Intersite Transports and sites all defined. It may be time
consuming but you want your system to be healthy.

Paul Bergson MCT, MCSE, CNE, CNA, CCA