help - formatting domain controller

  • Thread starter Thread starter bart3r
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bart3r

I want to format one of the domain controllers, and just wondering
what the process is for removing and adding it back into the domain?

The machine is our Exchange Server, and I want to format, re-install
exchange and then put it back on the domain.

If i format it and try to put in back on the domain with the same
name, will it let me?
Or do i have to remove it from active directory, format it, and then
add it back into active directory.

Any help, or reference links would be great.
Thankyou.
 
It depends on if this is the last DC in your Domain or not. Assuming
you have other DC's, you need to do the following:
1. Verify all services running on the DC are available on other DC's.
This includes DNS, GC, FSMO roles, etc.
2. Run DCPROMO on the DC to demote it. You should not simply turn it
off or rebuild it as AD will not automatically clean out its entries and
will have issues due to the orphaned records. So, yes, remove it from
AD (demote it back to a member server), then rebuild it and promote it
back into AD.

I'm not familiar with Exchange so I can't answer for that.
 
For the Exchange bit - you might be a lot better off setting up a temporary
box as a new server, installing W2k server, joining the domain, installing
Exchange as another server in the same organization, moving mailboxes,
replicating all PFs, and then proceed to remove the old server. Otherwise,
you're going to have to do a backup/restore, which can be a PITA.

http://www.swinc.com/resource/e2kfaq_appxa.htm may be helpful.
 
well you type dcpromo at the run line and demote the DC
but have you moved the exchange to a diffrent DC ? this
could cause you a lot of problems if you dont
 
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