Rolling back to NTDS from AD

[Mark N.]

Can anybody point me to a safe method for rolling back if the active
directory upgrade goes awry? I'm getting ready to implement active
directory, but want to have a disaster recovery plan ready to go!

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Bjorn Landemoo]

Mark

Create an NT4 BDC, let it replicate, and then remove this machine from the
network before upgrading your PDC. This would be your backup solution. This
MS Knowledge Base article has more information:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=298107

Best regards

Bjorn

 

[Mark N.]

Create an NT4 BDC, let it replicate, and then remove this machine from the

network before upgrading your PDC. This would be your backup solution. This
MS Knowledge Base article has more information:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=298107

That article didn't really say anything about rollback, except that you
can't do it ;-)

Okay, if I create this BDC and put it somewhere safe, what's the actual
rollback procedure? I'm still reading up on AD so I don't know much about
directory structure and what happens when you "throw the switch" - I'll
learn more as I go, but I'm assuming at this point that the machine on which
I do the dcpromo will be the only DC for the directory? Can I just take
that offline and put the BDC back on and promote it?

Sorry for the inept questions - I'm still studying this

Mark

 

[Bjorn Landemoo]

Mark

Yes, the idea is that you could take your new DC offline, connect and start
the BDC and then promote it to PDC. I have not seen any better description
on how to roll back, but there is loads of information to search through.
Here, for instance:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/deploy/cookbook/cookintr.mspx

Best regards

Bjorn

 

[Mark N.]

Yes, the idea is that you could take your new DC offline, connect and
start

the BDC and then promote it to PDC. I have not seen any better description
on how to roll back, but there is loads of information to search through.
Here, for instance:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/deploy/cookbook/cookintr.mspx


Thanks for your help - what about the AD Migration Tool? I've just seen
mention of that today for the first time. Is it worthwhile?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Bjorn Landemoo]

Mark

It seems to be popular. This MS Knowledge Base has a few lines about how to
use it:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=260871

This web site has more information:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/planning/activedirectory/admt.asp

Best regards

Bjorn