Adding A BDC for off-site Disaster recovery

[taboy]

I am looking to create an off-site exchange 5.5 on a NT4 Disaster recovery machine. The first thing I am planning to do is create a BDC and add it to my network (to get the SAM... ect).

I am planning to do the following

1) create a new installation on a test machine specifying it is a BDC.

2) Load out sp6a

3) Add machine to network

4) Syncronize with PDC

5) Remove from network

6) Create a test network (completel seperate from the live network)

7) Permote to PDC

The question I have is "Is this all I have to do to get a working PDC on a test network that will "emulate" the PDC on my live network?

Thanks alot

 

[itsp1965]

This will work except that when configuring the server as a BDC it has to be on the network initially in order to communicate with the PDC (between step 1 and 2)I know you can "upgrade" a standalone box to a DC using 3rd party utilities but I have seen it cause some funky probs. Once you have removed it from the network, you can promote on your test network (as you mentioned). If you have WINS installed in your existing network, you may want to have it installed on this new server also

 

[AndrewTait]

Also be aware that if you remove this machine from the network, and it is set as a PDC, it will not keep passwords, users and other policies up to date. If it is kept on the network, it will need to be a BDC. If this machine is to be in an off site location, it would be beneficial to promote it to a PDC, and then reset all passwords to a documented password. This can be done en-masse using a tool such as Hyena.

In addition to the WINS services, if the original server is running DHCP, it is worth setting this up as well, and just having the scope disabled when on the network. Then all you need to do is enable the scope, and you have your DHCP services restored as well. There are several tools which can help in migrating the DHCP scope from one server to another.

He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy (Monty Python's The Life of Brian)