How to backup and restore Active Directory? Will copying the ntds.dir file and if something goes wrong again restoring the copied ntds.dir file to C://Windows/System32 work?
How to backup and restore Active Directory? Will copying the ntds.dir file and if something goes wrong again restoring the copied ntds.dir file to C://Windows/System32 work?Thanks and Regards, Radhakrishnan
May 25th, 2012 6:56am

Did ya kinda notice this is the Training and Certification forum? You might want to post your question in the appropriate Windows Server forum.
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May 25th, 2012 8:45am

Did ya kinda notice this is the Training and Certification forum? You might want to post your question in the appropriate Windows Server forum.
May 25th, 2012 8:54am

http://usefulglyphs.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/how-to-backuprestore-a-windows-2003-domain-controller/
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May 26th, 2012 1:51am

Hello Radhakrishnan, Can you please correct yourself ,there is no ntds.dir in AD rather it is a ntds.dit (Directory Info tree). Anyways already Selvan R posted useful link, please follow it to accomplish your goal.Regards, Ravikumar P
May 26th, 2012 1:58am

Only copying ntds.dit does not help. You need to perform system state backup. You should remeber , AD does contain folders like SYSVOL and NETLOGON. SO backing up only ntds.dit is bad Below is the good guide to understand AD Backup and resotre http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727048.aspx Regards, _Prashant_MCSA|MCITP SA|Microsoft Exchange 2003 Blog - http://prashant1987.wordpress.com Disclaimer: This posting is provided AS-IS with no warranties/guarantees and confers no rights.
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May 26th, 2012 2:05am

Hello Radhakrishnan, Can you please correct yourself ,there is no ntds.dir in AD rather it is a ntds.dit (Directory Info tree). Anyways already Selvan R posted useful link, please follow it to accomplish your goal.Regards, Ravikumar P
May 26th, 2012 2:07am

Only copying ntds.dit does not help. You need to perform system state backup. You should remeber , AD does contain folders like SYSVOL and NETLOGON. SO backing up only ntds.dit is bad Below is the good guide to understand AD Backup and resotre http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727048.aspx Regards, _Prashant_MCSA|MCITP SA|Microsoft Exchange 2003 Blog - http://prashant1987.wordpress.com Disclaimer: This posting is provided AS-IS with no warranties/guarantees and confers no rights.
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May 26th, 2012 2:14am

How to backup and restore Active Directory? Will copying the ntds.dir file and if something goes wrong again restoring the copied ntds.dir file to C://Windows/System32 work? Thanks and Regards, Radhakrishnan Hello, start with reading http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc816916(v=ws.10) and there is NO way to use only the NTDS.DIT file to restore a DC.Best regards Meinolf Weber MVP, MCP, MCTS Microsoft MVP - Directory Services My Blog: http://msmvps.com/blogs/mweber/ Disclaimer: This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties or guarantees and confers no rights.
May 26th, 2012 6:29am

How to backup and restore Active Directory? Will copying the ntds.dir file and if something goes wrong again restoring the copied ntds.dir file to C://Windows/System32 work? Thanks and Regards, Radhakrishnan Hello, start with reading http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc816916(v=ws.10) and there is NO way to use only the NTDS.DIT file to restore a DC.Best regards Meinolf Weber MVP, MCP, MCTS Microsoft MVP - Directory Services My Blog: http://msmvps.com/blogs/mweber/ Disclaimer: This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties or guarantees and confers no rights.
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May 26th, 2012 6:37am

You can use the following link to download documents that contains everything you need to know about backing up and restoring Active Directory in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2003: http://www.edeconsulting.be/activedirectorypublications.asp Please VOTE as HELPFUL if the post helps you and remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
May 26th, 2012 12:20pm

You can use the following link to download documents that contains everything you need to know about backing up and restoring Active Directory in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2003: http://www.edeconsulting.be/activedirectorypublications.asp Please VOTE as HELPFUL if the post helps you and remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
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May 26th, 2012 12:22pm

Hello, No its not possible to restore the AD only using NTDS.DIT. As you know the System state backup contain some important elements which are tightly integrated with the Active directory, Like Sysvol and registry. http://www.arabitpro.com
May 27th, 2012 2:46am

Hello, No its not possible to restore the AD only using NTDS.DIT. As you know the System state backup contain some important elements which are tightly integrated with the Active directory, Like Sysvol and registry. http://www.arabitpro.com
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May 27th, 2012 2:47am

Hi, I have similar question. I have domain with one controller (old good w2k Server :) ). Some time ago I make test virtual machine and clone hdd from domain controller to that virtual machine. I had tested the virtual machine in isolated network (I make sure this virtlual machine boots in spite of different hardware. And I move one of client computers into this isolated network that make sure that this client see virtual machine domain controller). But from that time some changes happened in real domain (several user was added and one or two client machines was renamed). Can I "synchronize" active directory of my virtual machine domain controller with real domain controller by copying some files (ntdis, sysvol folders), without to clone the hdd again? What files I must transfer from real domain controller to virtual machine domain controller for synchronize active directory?
July 10th, 2012 3:20pm

Hello, NO, NEVER connect the cloned machine to the production network. Also if you use machines between the 2 domains you have to unjoin them from the domain and join it correct to the other domain to avoid problems. BTW: Next time please create your own thread instead working with another that is already marked as answered.Best regards Meinolf Weber MVP, MCP, MCTS Microsoft MVP - Directory Services My Blog: http://msmvps.com/blogs/mweber/ Disclaimer: This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties or guarantees and confers no rights.
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July 11th, 2012 3:10am

Of course I will not connect cloned machine to product network. Cloned machine will stay in isolated network. My question: if I already have domain controller clone (in isolated network), can I "synchronize" this clone with original by copying active directory database files (for example if I switch off original controller, boot WinPE, copy files to usb drive, and transfer this files to cloned controller)?
July 11th, 2012 3:34am

Hello, no, just copying the ntds.dit file is not enough. If you need an up to date lab machine just create a new one as before.Best regards Meinolf Weber MVP, MCP, MCTS Microsoft MVP - Directory Services My Blog: http://msmvps.com/blogs/mweber/ Disclaimer: This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties or guarantees and confers no rights.
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July 11th, 2012 4:35am

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