BDC crashed; no backup off system state

[senseforgreed]

Hi,

Last night our whole backup domain controller crashed. On this box our exchange was running also. We don't have a backup of the system state of this box and the use of the Emergency Repair Disk didn't help at all.

Problem is, I think it's gonna be, after I reinstall Win2k server on it the Active Directory isn't gonna work properly because I could not depromote the BDC first. Anyway got any idea how to start with this?

Bart.

 

[GiaBetiu]

What BDC are you talking about? BDC can be just a WinNT server. But you are speaking about Win2k "to reinstall".
In w2k AD there is no BDC. All your domain controllers have read/write rights to the AD.
Anytime you can prmote or demote a memeber server to be or not a DC.

Gia Betiu
m.betiu@chello.nl
Computer Eng. CNE 4, CNE 5, soon MCSE2k

 

[senseforgreed]

Then what do you call it? Our first domain controller is the Global catalog server. Our second server on Win2k is also installled with Active directory, so in my opinion, that's a backup domain controller because one can still logon to the domain if the global catalog server is down, this being our first server.

Bart.

 

[GrnEyedLdy]

Metaldude,

All Domain Controlers in Win2K are peers.

Since the DC that failed was not demoted, your AD structure will still have references to this machine. All you have to do is remove the references to this DC by using the Ntdsutil. Check out this link, it will explain how to remove data in the Active Directory. It's really quite simple.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q216498

Have fun,

Patty

 

[globalstrata]

Bringing a new DC online will not be a problem. The bigger problem that you will have is with the Exchange Server, since you will have to configure the server with the Exact name as your previous Exchange and the Server configuration will have to be replicated. If you go to the Exchange Forum, you will find several Threads talking about how to do this.

Gladys Rodriguez
GlobalStrata Solutions

http://www.globalstrata.com

 

[senseforgreed]

GrnEyedLdy,

Thx for the tip. Our DC is already back online. I'am now trying to put the exchange back online.


Globalstrata,

I 'am checking the exchange 4rums now. Like you said, the DC wasn't really a problem. I hope the exchange will be that easy to :-D

Bart.