Does W2K Reinstall Impact AD?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Diane
  • Start date Start date
D

Diane

We have an old exchange server with OS corruption (forest
root/1st DC) that we want to rebuild to use as a mail
relay. I've learned we need to make sure all exchange
roles are moved to the new exchange server before
removing exchange. However, 1st we want to reinstall the
OS to get a competent system environment. I believe we
need to move FSMO, global catalog and exchange roles
before reinstalling the OS (do all need to be moved?).
However, I am curious about what happens to the AD as a
result of the reinstall. Does it retain all information
or will we need to reinstall AD as well and replicate
from the 2nd DC?
Will it "know" it is the forest root or is there
something special we'll need to do during the reinstall?
Is there anything else that needs to be done before the
reinstall? This is the first time we've attempted to
rebuild anything on the 1st DC and trying to reduce the
risk as much as possible. It's a small firm and we don't
have extra systems to experiment with.

I appreciate your help and guidance.
 
You will need to transfer all 5 FSMO roles to the other DC in the root
domain. Transfer the exchange roles to the new exchange server. Next Run
dcpromo to demote the dc from the domain. Then rebuild. dcpromo to a DC.
This will replicate all AD info to the fresh install, and then move FSMO
roles arround to be like desired.

HTH

Paul McGuire
 
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