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Converting NT4.0 Server to Backupserver

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11 replies

by mckb

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I have a server in my domain that does not participate in the daily synchronization with my PDC. It shows up in the domain as a server. I am wondering if only BDC's synchronize ?

If so how do I change the status from a server to a BDC ?

Thanks,

Barry

11 replies

by tejota

If I can recall correctly, you can promote a BDC to a PDC, but cannot demote a PDC. Also, if you've installed NT server as a stand alone, you have to run the install again and chose BDC. There is no way of promoting from a stand alone to a BDC. Double check this, but I'm pretty sure it's correct.

Later,

TJ

by mckb

TJ,

I was afraid of that answer. The re-installs are such a pain. There may be a work around for the situation I am working on. If not then the re-install may be in the cards.

Thanks for your answer.

Barry

by estebandelatorre

Sorry, no way you have to reinstall windows NT again over the current instalation (if you want to keep some aplications instaled.)
The best, would be format and re-install from scratch.

by soekratis

Barry,

There are 3 roles to select when installing NT Servers. Namely, Primary Domain Controller (PDC), Backup Domain Controller (BDC) and Member Server (MS). Answer to your question is "Yes", only BDC or BDCs will synchonize with the PDC. You can have only 1 PDC in a Domain. However, multiple BDC can exist in a NT Domain. These roles is selectable during the initial NT Server setup and cannot be change, with the exception that the BDC can be promoted to PDC, should the its original PDC failed. So the bottom line is that you have a member server and the only way to change the role of that server is to re-install it.

Make sure to backup all the data should you decide to re-install the server.

Cheers
Soekratis

by mackem

Hi the other guys are quite correct, you cannot change a stand alone server to a BDC, however if you have a free partition on your server you could try this. First make a full backup of all of your files on the server. Then in disk manager make the free partition the active partiton then reboot. Install NT Server, it will go on the new partition and will not interfere with the old installation. Make this a BDC when asked what kind of werver is required.
Once this is done you can create the same file structure as on the other partition. you can now do a restore to the new partition and you should have everything in order.
Once you a certain that everything is working ok you can remove the old stand alone version to free up space. If you have a lot of free space then you could leave the old version as a backup incase the new one dies.
Hope this helps.

by mckb

Perlotechy,

Ah, very interesting. I have two logical drives C: for system files and D: for data. I suppose I could partition off part of D.

Thanks !

by j0e

All the servers, except Member Servers, are potential BDC's and PDC's. Only one machine at a time can be designated as the PDC. At any given time you can promote another BDC to the PDC, and the old PDC will go back to being a BDC. Only domain controllers will sync because domain controllers are the only ones that replicate the domain copy of the MAC database. The PDC will host the master, and the BDC's will keep a replicated copy. Changing from PDC to BDC is really just determining who (which machine) is going to have the master copy of the MAC database.

If you want to convert a member Server to a BDC, you will have to reload.

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