Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.active_directory (
More info?)
Thanks for the reply Ace. You are correct, this DC is not the first in the
domain. I have restored from the production domain and when I try to start AD
Users and Computers I get a cannot locate or contact domain. Could this be a
DNS issue?
"Ace Fekay [MVP]" wrote:
> In news:155FE245-26EC-4EFF-BDDF-BCAD3F2C30C5@microsoft.com,
> Mizzleman <Mizzleman@discussions.microsoft.com> made this post, which I then
> commented about below:
> > Hello,
> > I am trying to create a test lab that replicates our production
> > environment as much as possible. Can I take a backup of the
> > production domain controller and restore it to the lab to get
> > started? We do use AD-integrated DNS so that's not a problem. I am
> > concerned that the DC is not the root DC and is just a PDC emulator
> > and doesn't hold enough roles to get the lab started. Thanks.
>
> Usually restoring the system state as a non-authoratative restore will do
> the trick. But you are saying it is not the "root" DC? Does that mean the DC
> is in a child domain or is it not the first DC created in your domain,
> assuming the only domain in the forest?
>
> Normally the first server created in a forest holds all five FSMO roles,
> including being a GC (which is not a FSMO role, but rather a service running
> on a DC). If you were to recreate it in a test environment as the only DC,
> you would need to forcibly transfer all the FSMO roles to this one machine
> so it will properly operate, which may or may not be critical, depending on
> the role and what functions are attempted to perform on it.
>
> You can also use Ghost to transfer an image of the machine. Either way, you
> would have to manually update any changes to mimic the productiion
> environment.
>
> --
> Regards,
> Ace
>
> Please direct all replies ONLY to the Microsoft public newsgroups
> so all can benefit.
>
> This posting is provided "AS-IS" with no warranties or guarantees
> and confers no rights.
>
> Ace Fekay, MCSE 2003 & 2000, MCSA 2003 & 2000, MCSE+I, MCT, MVP
> Microsoft Windows MVP - Windows Server - Directory Services
> Infinite Diversities in Infinite Combinations.
> =================================
>
>
>