Removing a Domain Controller-should I worry about Exch2003
I have a Windows 2000 AD domain running Domain Controllers W2K and W2k3 and a separate Exchange2003 server part of the same AD domain. I have a domain controller that is down which cannot be brought back on line and I have to manually remove it. I know how to manually remove it but I wonder what Exchange 2003 dependencies there might be (if any) that I should worry about. The DC does not have any FSMO roles and is not a Global Catalog. I see exchange connectors present on other DCs but I wont touch these. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks
Johny
May 8th, 2008 9:32pm
Hi,
I understand that there was one DC failed to be working. You would like to remove the DC manually without interfering with the normal running of Exchange server.
Before going on, I would like to confirm whether any Exchange server was installed on this DC.
Since there have five FSMO roles in the forest, I suggest we confirm there is no any FSMO roles on this DC again. You can view the following instruction as a reference.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255690/
Since the DC is just the container which stores Exchange objects such as Exchange servers, connectors and routing groups the same as other DCs without GC role. Thus, if this DC is just general working computer without any roles, we can remove the DC safely.
Thanks
Allen
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May 9th, 2008 1:09pm
Exchange is not installed on the DC I am about to pull out and the DC does not have any FSMO roles. However there is another DC that I will later dcpromo Down which has FSMO roles. I will first migrate the FSMO roles but I do see an exchange connector on it when I look at the Sites and Services mmc. What should I do about the Exchange connector? Thanks
May 13th, 2008 3:22am
Hi,
Actually, the Active Directory database is divided into three distinct Partitions. Since the Exchange server, connectors and routing groups are stored in the configuration partition which is stored on and replicated to every domain controller in the forest, the exchange connector will be replicated on the another DC.
Of course, if the exchange connector has been changed without we hope, please just re-create the connector on the another DC.
Thanks
Allen
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May 13th, 2008 10:20am
I have a total of 6 domain controllers 3 for each domain (root and another domain) but I only see exchange connectors on two domain controllers one in the root and one in the other domain. You are saying that the exchange connectors will be replicated but I dont think they will because otherwise I will see one connector on each of the 6 domain controllers. Since I inherited the domain and I dont know the history of what was created manually and how and I want to understand how these connectors get created (I dont know much about exchange). If they are just manually created without specific requirements on the DC I will do so. Please advice? Thank a lot.
May 13th, 2008 11:00pm
Hi,Before going on, I would like to explain that the connector just provides a one-way path for message flow to a specific destination, such as the mailbox of the two users exists in the two Exchange servers which locate in different Routing Group or the email is sent for the external domain. For more information, please view the link as below:http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb123812(EXCHG.65).aspx
Generally speaking, the connector is not necessary except that two scenarios are described as below:
For the internal email there have two Exchange server are located in the different Routing Group.
For the external email, the connector just is used to achieve the requirements for easy management. You can apply with the various restrictions on the connector based on your needs.
Thus, please be aware of that we can create the connector manually after transferring the role to the another DC.ThanksAllen
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May 14th, 2008 7:35am
How do I transfer the role to another DC - do I just use the same wizard that created the connector?
How do I create it manually - within Active Directory Sites and Services or the same wizard?
I am assuming that I will first transfer the role and then create the connector - is that right?
Thanks
May 20th, 2008 2:15am
Hi,
Regarding how to transfer the FSMO role, please view the following link resource.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324801
Before going on, I would like to confirm whether you have another Email database to be used to send or receive the email except that Exchange Server 2003. If not, there is no necessary to create Exchange connector again.
Actually, Exchange connector is used to download email from POP3 mailbox, Lotus Notes or other third party Email programs and delivering the message to the Exchange server.
Thanks
Allen
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May 20th, 2008 1:59pm