Question

The specified domain either does not exist or could not be contacted

Asked by: msd_informatique

Hi,

I have 2 windows 2003 domain controllers, and I checked the "Global catalog" on the second domain controllers as well.

If I reboot/shutdown the first domain controller (the first one that was installed) all the computers in the office starts to work slowly/freeze and if I try to logon, I get the message in the title. Is there anything beside the checkbox "Global catalog" that needs to be made to make sure eveything will run smooth even if I loose the "PRIMARY server".

Thanks

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Asked On
2009-03-24 at 04:13:56ID24258696
Topic

Windows 2003 Server

Participating Experts
3
Points
125
Comments
10

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Answers

 

by: JoWickermanPosted on 2009-03-24 at 05:15:31ID: 23967098

Hi msd_informatique,

The first domain controller in your organization will hold all FSMO roles. This will be the reason that your network slows down when that DC is down.

You can transfer roles:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324801

But this only if really neccessary.

Hope this assists.

Cheers.

 

by: msd_informatiquePosted on 2009-03-24 at 05:30:51ID: 23967250

Thanks for your help,

I know how to transfer roles, but I guess it's not normal that the network doesnt work when the primary server is offline. Right now, if that server is down, nobody can logon to their computer until the server is back up.

Why bother having multiple domain controllers if losing the "primary" bring the network down...

There is something missing in my config I guess

 

by: dariusgPosted on 2009-03-24 at 05:33:49ID: 23967284

One more thing to add. If the clients are pointing to the Primary server for DNS you need to make sure you have the other server listed as Secondary in the TCP\IP properties.

 

by: dariusgPosted on 2009-03-24 at 05:34:56ID: 23967299

When the primary is down run a dcdiag on the server. Also, run one when the primary is up and running to see if you have any errors.

 

by: KCTSPosted on 2009-03-24 at 05:36:08ID: 23967316

You don't need to transfer the FSMO roles if the FSMO role holder is down for a short while. Having the FSMO role holder down for a short while will NOT slow your domain down.

You do however need to make sure that the other services are available, not just the global catalog, but also DNS and DHCP

As far as DNS is concerned, install DNS on the other server (if its not already installed). Assuming that you were using Active Directory Integrated DNS on the first Domain Controller, DNS will automatically replicate to the new domain controller along with Active Directory.

You then need to configure all of your clients to use one DNS Server as the preferred DNS Server and the other as the alternate DNS server, that way if one DNS Server fails it will use the other. You can set this in the DHCP options (for DHCP clients), or in the TCP/IP settings for static IPs

If you are using DHCP you should spread this across the domain controllers, In a simple single domain this is easiest done by Setting up DHCP on the second Domain controller and using a scope on the same network that does not overlap with the existing scope on the other Domain Controller. Dont forget to set the default gateway (router) and DNS Servers. The DHCP scopes will need to be activated and the DHCP servers authorized.

As said previiously. all clients (and indeed  the domain controllers themselves) need to have their Preferred DNS server set to one domain controller, and the Alternate DNS to the other, that way if one of the DNS Servers fails, the clients will automatically use the other( DCs should use themselves as the preferred server and another DC as the alternate).

Both Domain Controllers by this point will have Active Directory, Global Catalog, DNS and DHCP and the domain could function for a while at least should any one of them fail.

 

by: msd_informatiquePosted on 2009-03-24 at 06:06:21ID: 23967597

Hi,

sorry, I thought this question would be easier (simple click somewhere)

I have 2 domain controllers:
Ips are 192.168.101.4 and 192.168.101.6

Both of them are running wins/dns/dhcp/global catalog

The dhcp scopre is shared in two:
192.168.101.100-192.168.101.149 are on server 1
192.168.101.150-192.168.101.199 are on server 2

All computers have both servers ips in the dns and wins settings

So I thought I was having a "redundant" solution...

I will try the dcdiag to see if it finds something


 

by: KCTSPosted on 2009-03-24 at 07:03:11ID: 23968258

Are the clients configured with the IPs of both servers - one as preferred DNS server, the other as alternate DNS server ? (or both DNC servers being included in the DHCP options - Option 006 DNS servers)

 

by: msd_informatiquePosted on 2009-03-24 at 07:10:48ID: 23968346

Both servers are configured in option 006 of dhcp

Is that wrong ?

 

by: dariusgPosted on 2009-03-24 at 18:21:39ID: 23975229

That is the correct way. Can you run a dcdiag then post to see if you have any errors?

 

by: msd_informatiquePosted on 2009-03-26 at 02:20:13ID: 23988396

Hi Guys,

thanks for your help. Running dcdiag returned a bunch of errors on my server02

I will repair them thanks a lot for your help

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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