Estimated time to move FSMO roles to another W2K DC

  • Thread starter Thread starter Allan Black
  • Start date Start date
A

Allan Black

I have a very clear post for moving the FSMO roles to
another W2K domain controller, but I am wondering how
much time to wait between steps for propagation.

I plan to first add the 2nd server as a global catalog
server and then intended to move the Schema, then the
domain name operations, and finally the Infrastructure,
RID and PDC.

If you have accomplished this task of late, please
confirm my intended steps and also the points at which I
should pause before going onto the next stage.

Thanks
Allan
 
Allan,

Have done this several times.

I would add the second DC - via dcpromo process ( an additional DC in an
existing domain ). I would then make that DC a Global Catalog Server ( via
Active Directory Sites and Services MMC ). You should then reboot that
particular DC. Give it 20 minutes. Should be effective immediately but
just to be on the safe side. Here is a MSKB Article on how to do this:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;313994&Product=win2000

After this time has passed, I would transfer the FSMO Roles. The three
domain-wide roles can easily be transferred via the Active Directory Users
and Computers MMC. The forest-wide role of Domain Naming Master can be
transferred via the Active Directory Domains and Trusts MMC. The
forest-wide role of Schema Master is a bit more involved. Please take a
look at the following two MSKB Articles:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;255690&Product=win2000
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;255504&Product=win2000

I am assuming that we are talking about a single site domain with just the
two domain controllers that you mention?

HTH,

Cary
 
Thanks for the response. Yes I am talking about a single
domain/forest infrastructure. Besides the time waiting
for the Global catalog to migrate, would you add other
pause times between the other FSMO roles to allow for
propogation, or is the Global Catalog the only pause area?

Thanks Allan
 
Allan,

You are welcome. While I have not tested this, I would give AD some time to
replicate the change in the FSMO roles. I wanna say that it will be fairly
quick but let's just be sure. I am not sure what you have planned after you
transfer the five FSMO roles. I can test this when I have a couple of
moments. Again, I am fairly confident that the changes will be fairly quick
but let's just be on the safe side and allow for the time to replicate.

Cary
 
I will be pragmatic in the migration. Basically the
whole process is to do a kind of leapfrog upgrade from an
NT 4.0 domain infrastructure. The box that has the 5
fsmo roles was setup as a temporary NT 4.0 PDC and was
upgraded to W2K AD. I have no intent on keeping this box
in the domain, it is simply there to allow for the
addition of active directory. The additional W2K boxes
that will be brought up with dcpromo will be the live
boxes and one will receive the fsmo roles. The original
tempory box will be ultimately removed using dcpromo.

I hope that helps shed a bit more light.

Allan
 
Allan,

I have tested this in a lab twice and each time the transfer is immediate -
as I suggested it would be. However, I would still give it time ( just to
make sure ).

HTH,

Cary
 
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