Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question

Which of my servers is the Global Catalog?

Tags:
  • Servers
  • Domain Controller
  • Active Directory
  • Windows
Last response: in Windows 2000/NT
Share
Anonymous
June 3, 2005 5:58:40 AM

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.active_directory (More info?)

Yes, this q may indicate my stupidity level at this time of night, so bear
with me....


We have 5 Windows 2000 servers. 3 of them are Domain Controllers. Trying
to figure out which one is the Global Catalog server. Can the GC ONLY be on
a domain controller? Is there a setting I can look for, that would tell me
that the GC is on 'X' server?

Unfortunately, the sys admin at the company doesn't remember which one its
installed on. So is there a relatively easy way?

Thanks

More about : servers global catalog

Anonymous
June 3, 2005 5:58:41 AM

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.active_directory (More info?)

Hi,

Only Domain Controllers can be Global Catalog servers. Here is a VBScript
program that determines if a specified DC is also a GC:
===============
Option Explicit
Dim strDC, objRootDSE, strDSServiceDN, objDSRoot, blnOptions

strDC = "MyServer"

Set objRootDSE = GetObject("LDAP://" & StrDC & "/RootDSE")
strDSServiceDN = objRootDSE.Get("dsServiceName")

Set objDSRoot = GetObject("LDAP://" & strDC & "/" & strDSServiceDN)
intOptions = objDSRoot.Get("options")

If (intOptions = 0) Then
Wscript.Echo "DC " & strDC & " is NOT a global catalog server"
Else
Wscript.Echo "DC " & strDC & " is a global catalog server"
End If
===============
You can also use a tool like ADSI Edit on the DC to check the "options"
attribute. Navigate to

cn=NTDS Settings,dc=MyServer,cn=Servers,cn=My
Site,cn=Sites,cn=Configuration,dc=MyDomain,dc=com

where "MyServer" is your DC, "My Site" is the name of your site, and
"dc=MyDomain,dc=com" is your domain. Right click this object, select
properties, and under optional properties view the "options" attribute. A
value of 0 means the DC is a not a GC, any other value (such as 1) means the
DC is a GC.

--
Richard
Microsoft MVP Scripting and ADSI
Hilltop Lab web site - http://www.rlmueller.net
--
"Courtney Regan" <DIEspammerDIE@DIEspammerDIE.COM> wrote in message
news:kPOne.9705$zb.8537@trndny04...
> Yes, this q may indicate my stupidity level at this time of night, so bear
> with me....
>
>
> We have 5 Windows 2000 servers. 3 of them are Domain Controllers. Trying
> to figure out which one is the Global Catalog server. Can the GC ONLY be
on
> a domain controller? Is there a setting I can look for, that would tell
me
> that the GC is on 'X' server?
>
> Unfortunately, the sys admin at the company doesn't remember which one its
> installed on. So is there a relatively easy way?
>
> Thanks
>
>
Anonymous
June 3, 2005 8:42:01 AM

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.active_directory (More info?)

Another way to determine whether or not a server is a GC is through Active
Directory Sites and Services. Open the tool by clicking Start ->
Administrative Tools -> Active Directory Sites and Services. Expand "Sites"
and expand your local site name (probably called Default First Site). Expand
"Servers" and expand the server name. Right-click on "NTDS Settings" and
choose "Properties." If the checkbox next to "Global Catalog" is checked,
then it is a global catalog.



"Courtney Regan" wrote:

> Yes, this q may indicate my stupidity level at this time of night, so bear
> with me....
>
>
> We have 5 Windows 2000 servers. 3 of them are Domain Controllers. Trying
> to figure out which one is the Global Catalog server. Can the GC ONLY be on
> a domain controller? Is there a setting I can look for, that would tell me
> that the GC is on 'X' server?
>
> Unfortunately, the sys admin at the company doesn't remember which one its
> installed on. So is there a relatively easy way?
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
Related resources
Anonymous
June 3, 2005 1:40:42 PM

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.active_directory (More info?)

Actually none of those mechanisms listed (they are actually all using the same
info source, just different ways to see it) is completely accurrate. That will
show DCs that are "supposed" to be GCs. For instance, someone could have just
told a DC to become a GC and the options attribute would be set, that is how the
DC is told to become a GC.... So that value could be set and the DC is still not
a GC.

To truly verify, you should look at the RootDSE attribute isGlobalCatalogReady.
If it is false, the machine is not a global catalog, though it may be in the
process of becoming one.

A second, even easier method is to try and return any RootDSE attribute from the
GC port of the DC.

joe

--
Joe Richards Microsoft MVP Windows Server Directory Services
www.joeware.net


Courtney Regan wrote:
> Yes, this q may indicate my stupidity level at this time of night, so bear
> with me....
>
>
> We have 5 Windows 2000 servers. 3 of them are Domain Controllers. Trying
> to figure out which one is the Global Catalog server. Can the GC ONLY be on
> a domain controller? Is there a setting I can look for, that would tell me
> that the GC is on 'X' server?
>
> Unfortunately, the sys admin at the company doesn't remember which one its
> installed on. So is there a relatively easy way?
>
> Thanks
>
>
June 3, 2005 7:01:07 PM

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.active_directory (More info?)

I like to use LDP.exe

from a command prompt type LDP and press enter
Click on Connection
choose Connect
type in the server name
click ok
You should see something similar to this at the bottem
1> isSynchronized: TRUE;
1> isGlobalCatalogReady: TRUE;
1> domainFunctionality: 2 = (

The isGlobalCatalogReady:True means it is a GC. If it said false it would
not be a GC.

Joel Richards gave this advice already.
This just an easy way to see the attribute.





"Joe Richards [MVP]" wrote:

> Actually none of those mechanisms listed (they are actually all using the same
> info source, just different ways to see it) is completely accurrate. That will
> show DCs that are "supposed" to be GCs. For instance, someone could have just
> told a DC to become a GC and the options attribute would be set, that is how the
> DC is told to become a GC.... So that value could be set and the DC is still not
> a GC.
>
> To truly verify, you should look at the RootDSE attribute isGlobalCatalogReady.
> If it is false, the machine is not a global catalog, though it may be in the
> process of becoming one.
>
> A second, even easier method is to try and return any RootDSE attribute from the
> GC port of the DC.
>
> joe
>
> --
> Joe Richards Microsoft MVP Windows Server Directory Services
> www.joeware.net
>
>
> Courtney Regan wrote:
> > Yes, this q may indicate my stupidity level at this time of night, so bear
> > with me....
> >
> >
> > We have 5 Windows 2000 servers. 3 of them are Domain Controllers. Trying
> > to figure out which one is the Global Catalog server. Can the GC ONLY be on
> > a domain controller? Is there a setting I can look for, that would tell me
> > that the GC is on 'X' server?
> >
> > Unfortunately, the sys admin at the company doesn't remember which one its
> > installed on. So is there a relatively easy way?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> >
>
Anonymous
June 3, 2005 11:28:34 PM

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.active_directory (More info?)

Even faster, download adfind and do

adfind -h dc_name -b -s base isglobalcatalogready



F:\DEV\cpp\ShrFlgs>adfind -h 2k3dc01 -b -s base isglobalcatalogready

AdFind V01.26.00cpp Joe Richards (joe@joeware.net) February 2005

Using server: 2k3dc01.joe.com
Directory: Windows Server 2003

dn:
>isGlobalCatalogReady: TRUE


1 Objects returned






--
Joe Richards Microsoft MVP Windows Server Directory Services
www.joeware.net


Mack wrote:
> I like to use LDP.exe
>
> from a command prompt type LDP and press enter
> Click on Connection
> choose Connect
> type in the server name
> click ok
> You should see something similar to this at the bottem
> 1> isSynchronized: TRUE;
> 1> isGlobalCatalogReady: TRUE;
> 1> domainFunctionality: 2 = (
>
> The isGlobalCatalogReady:True means it is a GC. If it said false it would
> not be a GC.
>
> Joel Richards gave this advice already.
> This just an easy way to see the attribute.
>
>
>
>
>
> "Joe Richards [MVP]" wrote:
>
>
>>Actually none of those mechanisms listed (they are actually all using the same
>>info source, just different ways to see it) is completely accurrate. That will
>>show DCs that are "supposed" to be GCs. For instance, someone could have just
>>told a DC to become a GC and the options attribute would be set, that is how the
>>DC is told to become a GC.... So that value could be set and the DC is still not
>>a GC.
>>
>>To truly verify, you should look at the RootDSE attribute isGlobalCatalogReady.
>>If it is false, the machine is not a global catalog, though it may be in the
>>process of becoming one.
>>
>>A second, even easier method is to try and return any RootDSE attribute from the
>>GC port of the DC.
>>
>> joe
>>
>>--
>>Joe Richards Microsoft MVP Windows Server Directory Services
>>www.joeware.net
>>
>>
>>Courtney Regan wrote:
>>
>>>Yes, this q may indicate my stupidity level at this time of night, so bear
>>>with me....
>>>
>>>
>>>We have 5 Windows 2000 servers. 3 of them are Domain Controllers. Trying
>>>to figure out which one is the Global Catalog server. Can the GC ONLY be on
>>>a domain controller? Is there a setting I can look for, that would tell me
>>>that the GC is on 'X' server?
>>>
>>>Unfortunately, the sys admin at the company doesn't remember which one its
>>>installed on. So is there a relatively easy way?
>>>
>>>Thanks
>>>
>>>
>>
Anonymous
June 9, 2005 9:09:05 AM

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.active_directory (More info?)

nltest /dsgetdc:D omain.net /gc

"Joe Richards [MVP]" wrote:

> Even faster, download adfind and do
>
> adfind -h dc_name -b -s base isglobalcatalogready
>
>
>
> F:\DEV\cpp\ShrFlgs>adfind -h 2k3dc01 -b -s base isglobalcatalogready
>
> AdFind V01.26.00cpp Joe Richards (joe@joeware.net) February 2005
>
> Using server: 2k3dc01.joe.com
> Directory: Windows Server 2003
>
> dn:
> >isGlobalCatalogReady: TRUE
>
>
> 1 Objects returned
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Joe Richards Microsoft MVP Windows Server Directory Services
> www.joeware.net
>
>
> Mack wrote:
> > I like to use LDP.exe
> >
> > from a command prompt type LDP and press enter
> > Click on Connection
> > choose Connect
> > type in the server name
> > click ok
> > You should see something similar to this at the bottem
> > 1> isSynchronized: TRUE;
> > 1> isGlobalCatalogReady: TRUE;
> > 1> domainFunctionality: 2 = (
> >
> > The isGlobalCatalogReady:True means it is a GC. If it said false it would
> > not be a GC.
> >
> > Joel Richards gave this advice already.
> > This just an easy way to see the attribute.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "Joe Richards [MVP]" wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Actually none of those mechanisms listed (they are actually all using the same
> >>info source, just different ways to see it) is completely accurrate. That will
> >>show DCs that are "supposed" to be GCs. For instance, someone could have just
> >>told a DC to become a GC and the options attribute would be set, that is how the
> >>DC is told to become a GC.... So that value could be set and the DC is still not
> >>a GC.
> >>
> >>To truly verify, you should look at the RootDSE attribute isGlobalCatalogReady.
> >>If it is false, the machine is not a global catalog, though it may be in the
> >>process of becoming one.
> >>
> >>A second, even easier method is to try and return any RootDSE attribute from the
> >>GC port of the DC.
> >>
> >> joe
> >>
> >>--
> >>Joe Richards Microsoft MVP Windows Server Directory Services
> >>www.joeware.net
> >>
> >>
> >>Courtney Regan wrote:
> >>
> >>>Yes, this q may indicate my stupidity level at this time of night, so bear
> >>>with me....
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>We have 5 Windows 2000 servers. 3 of them are Domain Controllers. Trying
> >>>to figure out which one is the Global Catalog server. Can the GC ONLY be on
> >>>a domain controller? Is there a setting I can look for, that would tell me
> >>>that the GC is on 'X' server?
> >>>
> >>>Unfortunately, the sys admin at the company doesn't remember which one its
> >>>installed on. So is there a relatively easy way?
> >>>
> >>>Thanks
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
>
!