Question

How do I Move Schema operations master roll from one DC to another in 2000

Asked by: timbone101

I need to transfer the role of schema master from one server to another.  Basically, I have a network with 2 servers, both running windows 2000 and 1 DC.  The current DC has hard drive corruption that is preventing us from installing new apps, making changes, etc.  We have purchased a new server that is running 2003.  The plan is to DCpromo the 2003 box so that all the Active Directory is replicated to the new server.  Then take the old one offline and done.  In order to do that I need to run adprep /forestprep and /domainprep on the existing 2000 server.  THe problem is adprep /forestprep bombs with corrupt file errors telling me to run chkdsk.  

My next idea was to DCpromo the other 2000 server, make it a global catalog server and then run the adprep on it.  When I do that I get an error telling me that I can only run that on the schema operations master server can do this.  Well that is impossible due to file corruption.  

What is the safest way to transfer the role of schema operations master to a different DC?  I assume once that is done I can run adprep and prepare the existing domain for a 2003 server.  Or is there a better way to do all this?

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Asked On
2007-06-25 at 12:01:54ID22656574
Tags

master

,

schema

,

move

Topics

Windows 2000 Server

,

Active Directory

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: danlikey2Posted on 2007-06-25 at 12:18:51ID: 19358323

Here is a good guide for transferring the schema master role.

http://www.petri.co.il/transferring_fsmo_roles.ht

Yes, that is probably the safest way to accomplish what you are going for, just transfer the role and do your preps.

Danno

 

by: danlikey2Posted on 2007-06-25 at 12:20:28ID: 19358335

Sorry, didnt get the whole URL

http://www.petri.co.il/transferring_fsmo_roles.htm

Transferring the Schema Master via GUI

1. To Transfer the Schema Master Role:

2. Register the Schmmgmt.dll library by pressing Start > RUN and typing:  regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll

3 Press OK. You should receive a success confirmation.

4 From the Run command open an MMC Console by typing MMC.

5 On the Console menu, press Add/Remove Snap-in.

6 Press Add. Select Active Directory Schema.

7 Press Add and press Close. Press OK.

8 If you are NOT logged onto the target domain controller, in the snap-in, right-click the Active Directory Schema icon in the Console Root and press Change Domain Controller.

9 Press Specify .... and type the name of the new role holder. Press OK.

10 Right-click right-click the Active Directory Schema icon again and press Operation Masters.

11 Press the Change button.

12 Press OK all the way out.

 

by: timbone101Posted on 2007-06-25 at 12:29:44ID: 19358419

OK...looks easy enough.  Here are some questions...will this have any impact on the domain while users are currently logged in?  Will I have to reboot either server once this is done?  Anything else I should worry about regarding the network going down if I do this?  Only reason I ask is I am not physically there...they are 3 hours away and I am using RDP to do this.

 

by: danlikey2Posted on 2007-06-25 at 12:43:06ID: 19358526

Q will this have any impact on the domain while users are currently logged in?
A.  No

Q. Will I have to reboot either server once this is done?
A. No

Q.   Anything else I should worry about regarding the network going down if I do this?
A.  This should have no impact whatsover on network availability.  The schema master domain controller is just the computer that controls all updates and modifications to the schema.  Very important, but not neccessary for domain availability in your scenario.

Danno

 

by: kamalgopiPosted on 2007-06-25 at 23:33:21ID: 19361307

daniel likely is rite.. there will be no down time or issues once you do the main schema transfer from one server to other .. you will only have probs if you do a seize role instead of tranfer.

Hope this helps
CHeers:)
Kamal

 

by: timbone101Posted on 2007-06-26 at 06:38:43ID: 19363497

I made the change and all seemed to go OK.  However, the new DC/new schema master does not seems to have replicated all the dta from the other DC.  ON the newly promoted DC, the sysvol foler only has an empty domain name folder.  It is missing the scripts and policies folder that the other DC has.  In addition, when I try and DCpromo the 2003 server (the 3rd server) I still get a message saying forestprep and domainprp need tobe ru for 2003 compatibility.  During the DCpromo process on the 2003 server, I notice for a split second that it is still referring to the first server...the one that is damaged.

ANy thoughts?

 

by: danlikey2Posted on 2007-06-26 at 08:08:35ID: 19364438

timbone101

Your replication issue is seperate from your schema master change.  I would run this at your command line on the old DC.

NETDOM QUERY FSMO

That should give you an accurate idea of whether the change actually took effect.  But I am confused.  In your original post, you said that you only had 1 DC in your enviroment, yet you asked how to transfer the role to another DC.  Do you have a 2nd DC that has already been promoted successfully?  Remember, we cannot transfer a FSMO role to a server until it has become domain controller and shared out its netlogon and sysvol folders.

 

by: timbone101Posted on 2007-06-26 at 18:56:01ID: 19369226

Danlikely2,

I figured it out.  The 2003 server I was trying to dcpromo was version R2.  THere is a separate adprep on disk2 that must be run to promote a 2003 R2 server to a 2000 domain.  YOur advice did get me the end result though, so points awarded gratefully.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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