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  Asked: Jul 6 2007   9:40 AM GMT
  Asked by: Linger1974

Backup Controller (Win2k3, AD) not operating as needed


Exchange, Networking services, DHCP, DNS, Active Directory, LDAP, Microsoft Windows

Hi there,

I run a dedicated Win2k3 Active Directory server, which is running just fine. I run a backup Win2k3 AD server as well.

When I turn off my primary, the backup should sub in, and direct individuals to my Exchange server, etc. But it's not. I know it's handling DNS queries fine, even when the primary is active, and when it's not, but whenever I turn off my primary, Outlook users lose the connection to Exchange, and it's bothering me..

Can anyone assist?

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Last Answered: Jul 6 2007  10:51 AM GMT  by nadig1




what is primary dns check it and check the secondary dns,
Please put the secondary dns as your backup the it will work fine, just check it and mail me
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BIGFella  |   Jul 6 2007  11:03AM GMT

You need to ensure that both your domain controllers are set up as global catalogue servers (this is vital for Exchange operation and performance in general) all domain controllers within the domain should be setup as GC’s. DNS in itself is fine as long as all clients are configured with primary and secondary DNS servers then they will continue to resolve names correctly. The bit that you may be missing is the transfering of the FSMO (flexible Single Master Operation) roles; these must be manually transfered it is not an automatic operation, it is also best practice to have the rolles split between your 2 DC’s so that not all services are disrupted if your DC with all the FSMO roles goes down.

 

astronomer  |   Jul 9 2007  12:06PM GMT

We have experienced a similar problem. We have two dedicated domain controllers at the main campus. One is the infrastructure manager and the other is the global catalog server. We also have a domain controller at each of the two remote campuses. These are both global catalog servers.
When the main campus global catalog server is unavailable, we have major problems with exchange even though the other two global catalog servers are still available.
As I recall, the exchange administrator said she had to designate a preferred global catalog server.
rt

 

Alanbloom  |   Oct 11 2007  4:23PM GMT

I thought that a GC was only available for one server at a time? How do you go about being able to set up another server on the same network to offer the GC role and act as a fail safe?

 

Wrobinson  |   Dec 22 2007  9:46PM GMT

The following TechNet article describes how to configure a domain controller as a global catalog server http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/93ffc6d8-e4c9-4a5b-8b4c-7d426bcba5a11033.mspx?mfr=true.

You can configure all domain controller as global catalogs which renders the infrastructure master FSMO role moot; otherwise, do not host the infrastructure master FSMO role on a GC because it will not function properly.