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charlesbridge
Asked: 2011-04-22 08:02:17 +0800 CST

Windows AD dcpromo /demote, who gets the roles?

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I've got three Windows servers running Active Directory: Two Win2000 Servers and a Win2003 Server. For a long time there was only one Win2000 AD server, so it probably has all the roles (although I haven't actually checked yet).
When I demote the original system it will release any roles it has. So are the odds good that the Windows 2003 server will take them all? Is there a delegation process? Or does the first system to reply take them?
I just want to make sure that the remaining Win2000 server stays as a backup and doesn't take over the domain.

Edit 04/2012:
I found the Microsoft KB 238369 that made me ask this question:

NOTE: When a domain controller is demoted, if it is not the last domain controller in the domain, it performs a final replication and then transfers the roles to another domain controller. As part of the demotion process, the Dcpromo utility removes the configuration data for the domain controller from Active Directory. [snip] If the domain controller is a global catalog, that role is not transferred to another domain controller. In this case, you must manually select the check box in Active Directory Sites and Services Manager for another domain controller to take over the role

windows-server-2000 windows-server-2003 active-directory

4 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    From one of the DCs run netdom query /domain:<yourdomain> fsmo to find what servers hold what roles. Then manually Transfer any roles the 2000 server holds as per: How to view and transfer FSMO Roles

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  2. It won't happen automatically, you will need to move the roles manually to the server that will be the new role holder.

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  4. Move the roles manually to the available server.

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