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Changing Domains

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by jyimcse

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I want to make a PDC of one domain(TEMP), a BDC on another domain(MAIN) without having to reload NT 4.0. Is this possible? The two domains aren't connected. I want to try and demote the PDC to a BDC, and then change the domain name. I will have a wan link established between this server and the PDC of the other domain. I do not want to have to reload the server and have to physically move it to the MAIN domain. Any ideas? Is there a way to setup a modem connection before the NT 4.0 setup askes for the domain info, so that the BDC can find the PDC throught the modem connection?

14 replies

by ntoz

If I understand you correctly, you want to take a BDC from one domain and merge it with another. The domain name is really only a Netbios name, its the SID that matters. The SAM Database that each domain uses is different as well. If your going to do this, you would need a tool to demote a PDC or BDC to a member server, then you can join it to another domain and convert it to a BDC. Your going to need a tool like http://www.algintech.com Upromote in order to accomplish this.

by ntoz

or you can always reinstall the OS.... I hope I read this right, hope it helped...

by ntoz

In using the tool from algintech, you can demote a BDP or PDC to a member server. Once you demote it, you can then leave the domain. Then you can join the new domain, this would take care of both the SID and SAM issues. Check out the site, this is agreat tool.

Pete

by simon sedgwick

I might be wrong, but I thought if you changed domains on a BDC, that it could only join as a member server. Also, you can't promote a member server back to a BDC.
As for the modem part yes, you can establish a connection between the two servers (just like your WAN but only slower) =)

by mphoffar

I agree with answer 1 in that the SID is what going to be at importance here. I fgund a utility at www.sysinternals.com called newsid, which should help you overcome this obsticle.

Good luck to you

Mark

by rkelly

I've used newsid from www.sysinternals.com to move PDCs and BDCs between domains.

Make sure that the two PDCs can see each other and then run newsid on the PDC you wish to move. Select Synchronise SID from the menu and type in the name of the domain you wish it to join.

Once the SID has been synchronsied you will be prompted to reboot. Use Server Manager on your existing PDC to create a new BDC for your domain (this as the same name as the PDC you are trying to move). Now change the domain name on the PDC you are moving. Again reboot as necessary.

Changing the SID on a domain controller is a highly complex operation and should NOT be undertaken without a complete verified system backup first.

For further details download the documenets from the sysinternal web site.

by rkelly

One other thing - demote the PDC you are moving to be a BDC before moving it if possible, it causes fewer problems as you don't have two PDCs in the same domain when everything is finished.

by bmiller95

1. You donot demote PDC's and can only promote a BDC to a PDC when the inital PDC is removed (this is special case because only this PDC which was the BDC be demoted back to a BDC to place the original PDC back on-line)
2. Since you can not demote the PDC the easier answer is just move one of the BDC from one domain to the other.
3. join the new domain, but doing this over a modem could be nightmare just because of the slow connection.
4. Remember NT 4 is not forgiving as windows 2000 (which allows to promote, demote--to member server)
The rules goes
a. can promote a BDC to PDC (but you can only have one PDC at a time).
b. Can take a PDC offline.
c. you can neve demote a Domain controller to a member server or promote a member server to a domain controller in NT 4.0.
** special *** you can demote a promoted BDC to PDC; back to a BDC.

Lasty, and probably the easiest,

If the 2 servers are the same and have the exact same hardware. ghost your PDC in your 2nd domain and install the image on your existing PDC.

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