-----Original Message-----
Well, that is the situation,
I have a PDC runnig with AD.
I'm installing another server wich will replace the
current running server, and I need to import the AD
from de current server to the future one.
How can I do that?
Please it's urgent...
Thx
Gabriel Pineda
.
Gabriel,
First of all there is no such thing as a PDC or a BDC in
WIN2000 AD. Those are WINNT 4 terms. All Domain
Controllers in WIN2000 are on equal footing! Anyway, we
all know what you mean! It is just a symantics thing!
Secondly, simply install WIN2000 Server on that new server-
class system. I would not install SP3 or SP4 just yet.
Nor would I install IE6SP1 or any of the Critical Updates
just yet. Join that computer to the domain as a Member
Server. Make sure that the TCP/IP configuration on the NIC
on that Member Server points to the IP Address of your
existing DC in the DNS tab. Go to a command prompt and
enter DCPROMO. Simply choose that you are adding an
additional Domain Controller to an existing Domain. You
will notice that the Configuration Partition is replicated
over to this "new" DC.
Once this process has completed simply reboot the server.
Upon rebooting it will be a DC. I would make sure that
there were no errors so check in the Event Logs. I would
then make that DC a Global Catalog Server ( in the Active
Directory Sites and Services MMC ). I would also make the
new DC a DNS Server. I would now install the Service Pack
of your choice and then do IE6 SP1 and all of the Critical
Updates.
Next, I would transfer the five FSMO Roles from the first
DC to the new DC. You can use the ADUC MMC for the three
Domain-wide roles, the ADDT MMC for the Domain Naming
Master FSMO Role and the Schema MMC for the Schema Master
FSMO Role ( but you need to register a .dll file and load
it first ). You can also use NTDSUtil to do this.
Remember, the key word here is TRANSFER. The other
possiblity is to seize them ( only available if using
NTDSUtil ) - do not do this at this point.
I would take this opportunity to suggest to you that you
install the Support Tools. The Support Tools can be
located in two places: on the WIN2000 Server CD in the
Support | Tools folder or on the WIN2000 Service Pack CD
in the Support Tools. If possible, use the WIN2000
Service Pack CD.
Furthermore, I would suggest that you set up WIN2000 Sites
by using the Active Directory Sites and Services MMC (
ADSS MMC ). You will have the Default-First-Site-Name
already ( assuming that you have not renamed it ). Simply
create the appropriate Subnet(s) and then associate each
subnet with the appropriate Site. Granted, with only one
Site you can get away without doing this but it is so easy
to do, takes but a moment or two and really should be done.
You do not need to 'import the AD' from the old DC to the
new one. This is handled by the Active Directory
Replication. Just make sure that the replication can take
place and you are golden! There are a couple of tools
that you can use to verify this: repadmin and replmon from
the Support Tools are big helps here. I would also run
netdiag /fix on both of your DCs. Then, I would run
dcdiag /v and netdiag /v on both of your DCs. These
utilities will check the health of your DC and bring any
errors that they detect to your attention.
BTW - Intrasite Replication ( replication between all
Domain Controllers in a Site ) takes place, by default,
every 15 minutes....
HTH,
Cary
