Currently we have plans to upgrade several of our servers which include Exchange from 2003 to 2011, CRM Server from 4 to 2011 and SQL Server 2005 to 2008 and in the future make possible changes to our DC, however currently an issue on our DC shows that we do not have VSS running and as a result we have no recent system state backup (AD etc.). Our latest backup is 15th Jan. Our initial plan is to add the BDC role to an existing server within the domain. If I am understanding this correctly this will mean we can switch the main DC to the BDC without issues (Only static files will be unavailable at that time) but importantly AD will sync between the two and we can take a backup from the BDC rather than the DC? The current DC is 2003 and the BDC would be 2008, any issues regarding this? A further query is regarding Forest Functionality as currently with our exchange server we currently have this set to 2000 but I believe this needs to be 2003 however our Domain Functionality is 2003 already. Is there anything to be concerned about regarding updating this, given the flaky nature of our current dc. Any further assistance or points to note would be gratefully recieved. regards, Shaun Hall

Hi Shaun, There's no such thing as a BDC since the days of Windows NT, but I know what your trying to get at. You add as many domain controllers as you like to your domain, and they will replicate. The FSMO roles can be transferred from one DC to another, so I guess you can think of the old DC becoming a BDC in that way. Adding an additional 2008 DC is a good way to upgrade. Once added, it will simply work at your current domains functional level. The way you raise that functional level from 2000 > 2003 > 2008 is that you need to make sure that there are no DC's running at that level before you raise it.. it's a one way street. Only raise it to 2008 once you have decommissioned your existing 2003 DC. Regards, Nathan Owen (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) - Please remember to click "Mark as Answer" on the post that helps you. Links: www.mad-monkey.co.uk - www.capitalnetworks.co.uk

Hello, PDC/BDC concept is gone with the start of Active directory, all DCs are the same, the only difference are the FSMO roles that are different and set according to some rules. There is no problem adding Windows server 2008 DCs to the domain, you have to upgrade the schema before starting and as you are talking about problems please use the support tools and provide the following output files BEFORE starting, so we can solve problems FIRST: ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt [from each DC/DNS Server] dcdiag /v /c /d /e /s:dcname >c:\dcdiag.txt netdiag /v >c:\netdiag.txt [from each DC, netdiag may work but isn't supported with Windows server 2008 and don't run on Windows server 2008 R2] repadmin /showrepl dc* /verbose /all /intersite >c:\repl.txt ["dc* is a place holder for the starting name of the DCs if they all begin the same (if more then one DC exists)] dnslint /ad /s "DCipaddress" (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321045) As the output will become large, DON'T post them into the thread, please use Windows Sky Drive(with open access!) and add the link from it here. Also the /e in dcdiag scans the complete forest, so better run it on COB. If you do not have any plans to use earlier OS Exchange servers you can change the operation mode, more details in: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/270143Best regards Meinolf Weber Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights.

pdc/bdc roles existed in Windows NT 4.0 after the realease of Active directory in windows 2000 the technology completely changed and Multimaster replication model was introduced in which any domain controller can send or receive updates of information stored in Active Directory. Replication processing is performed on a per-property basis, which means that only relevant changes are propagated. Our initial plan is to add the BDC role to an existing server within the domain ? Please create an additional domain controlller you may start reading it from here http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc738032(WS.10).aspx As Meinolf pointed There is no problem adding Windows server 2008 DCs to the domain, you have to upgrade the schema before starting. http://www.virmansec.com/blogs/skhairuddin

Hello, PDC/BDC concept is gone with the start of Active directory, all DCs are the same, the only difference are the FSMO roles that are different and set according to some rules. There is no problem adding Windows server 2008 DCs to the domain, you have to upgrade the schema before starting and as you are talking about problems please use the support tools and provide the following output files BEFORE starting, so we can solve problems FIRST: ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt [from each DC/DNS Server] dcdiag /v /c /d /e /s:dcname >c:\dcdiag.txt netdiag /v >c:\netdiag.txt [from each DC, netdiag may work but isn't supported with Windows server 2008 and don't run on Windows server 2008 R2] repadmin /showrepl dc* /verbose /all /intersite >c:\repl.txt ["dc* is a place holder for the starting name of the DCs if they all begin the same (if more then one DC exists)] dnslint /ad /s "DCipaddress" (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321045) As the output will become large, DON'T post them into the thread, please use Windows Sky Drive(with open access!) and add the link from it here. Also the /e in dcdiag scans the complete forest, so better run it on COB. If you do not have any plans to use earlier OS Exchange servers you can change the operation mode, more details in: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/270143 Best regards Meinolf Weber Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights. As requested I have the information here: http://cid-3eaa2529219224f8.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?resid=3EAA2529219224F8!105 regards, Shaun

Hello, the output looks ok so far. Please check the system event viewer logfile for errors shown in the dcdiag output and solve them if required: The System Event log test An Error Event occured. EventID: 0x00000457 Time Generated: 04/17/2011 19:45:58 (Event String could not be retrieved) To add a Windows server 2008 machine as DC see: http://msmvps.com/blogs/mweber/archive/2010/02/10/upgrading-an-active-directory-domain-from-windows-server-2003-to-windows-server-2008-or-windows-server-2008-r2.aspx As you are talking about Exchange see also: http://msmvps.com/blogs/mweber/archive/2010/05/23/exchange-server-and-it-s-relationship-to-active-directory.aspx For detailed questions about Exchange, SQL and the CRM please use the specific forum pages.Best regards Meinolf Weber Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights.