Hi,
I am looking for some advice.
I have a stand-alone network of Windows 2003 servers and XP clients (not internet connected) that serves as a reference system for a customer network. Development takes place on the stand-alone network, and then system images are taken using the Symantec ‘Backup Exec System Recovery’ tool for installation on the customer network. The network has a single DC as shipped (a second DC is added using dcpromo during the network commissioning process).
It turns out the images were shipped with a 60 day tombstone setting, and due to a variety of factors, shipping has taken longer. Initially the DC image would therefore not start up. Not knowing enough about AD tools (I’m a project manager not an IT specialist!), I got the image working by winding back the server clock in the BIOS to < 60 days after the image was taken. I rebooted after 24 hours and reset the clock back to current time. This seems to have worked, and I have been able to get DC functionality working again. Is anyone aware of any issues that might arise? Is this a 'good' way of doing things? Finally, is there an easy way of resetting AD so that it will boot from an out of date image since it is not required to replicate with any other DCs on the domain? I have already done some research and found that the tombstone period can be extended, and I shall do that for my next shipment, but am curious what the textbook answer for this would be. Many thanks in advance, John.
