AD Sites and services

Thanks to you both.

Jay I read your very informative blog.  Ironicaly the MS article you reference was on my desk as I read it.

Something is still very wrong.
I am currently configureing two future DC's for two remote offices connect by wan links.
Trying to be proactive I created two sites and 3 subnets.  Associated one subnet with each new site and the default site as per MS and your page.

Yesterday after a power failure, I again rebooted Exchange and the identical thing happened.  SYSTEM ATTENDENT would not come up until I delted my new sites and all the subnets.  

What could I be doing wrong?

Where is the Exchange server residing?  On its own server or on a DC?  Is it on the same subnet as the DC's?

It sounds like Exchange can't find a DC to use for authentication after you setup the sites and subnets.  You can verify this with the Troubleshooting Assistant: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=4BDC1D6B-DE34-4F1C-AEBA-FED1256CAF9A&displaylang=en

Oh and to Jay_Jay...nice writeup!

Thanks so much for respondingI

Exchange is on the DEFAULT SITE.  

Exchange lives on a member 2003 member server in a 2003 domain

I will check this link immediately.

I agree that Jay does good work.

No other sites currently reside in AD.  My goal is to create two new sites (remote but connected by wan links) that can access resourses at the DEFAULT SITE, primarily Exchange.

Thanks so much!

I foolishy forgot I already had this installed.

Ran the PROCESSES ARE FAILING  task and  came up clean.  Tool had no problem attaching to the server.
I tried it with both my DC's.

Your post remined me of the BEST PRACTICES tool where I got this output running the CONECTIVITY task (attached)  This seems to be fine also.

Thanks for your help...I am stumped!
output.jpg

"Automatically discover servers" is chosen.

I am so gun shy at this point (two mail shutdowns in about a week) I am wondering do I have to change the DEFAULT SITE name?

Yikes!

No...you can leave it alone as it is and just add two new sites for your branch offices.  After it was renamed you'd have to go into that Directory Access tab and see whether or not it was listing the correct DC's at that point or not.  If not, then you'd need to troubleshoot further if you go that route.

Another thought would be to create a new site called "HQ" or similar and define your local subnets there for that site (Make sure you create the subnets in ADS&S and add them to the appropriate site, which is what I thought was causing your problem originally), then you could reboot the Exchange server and see if it starts up ok on the new site.  If not, then just go back to the default site....if it does though then you can delete the default site.

You can use nltest /dsgetsite on the DC after you move it into that new site to make sure it really is listed in the new site.

So it's:

1.  Create New Site
2.  Create new Subnet
3.  Add Subnet to new site
4.  Move DC from Default site to New Site
5.  Check Nltest
6.  Reboot Exchange
7.  Test

Maaate! nice to see you back!

Let me just say once again that I appreciate your help.

Regarding step 4:

Should I move all my servers currently in the DEFAULT SITE into the new site or just DC's and EXCHANGE?
As I say I am a little jumpy at this point and want to do this correctly.

The only things listed in AD sites and services will be DC's  (no member servers, no exchange member servers)...that's where I'm saying to move them.  You'll right click each DC in the default site and choose "Move", then move it to the appropriate new site you created.

Oh dear.

I have both member servers and exchange server in my default site.

You mean it shows up in AD Sites and Services as a server you can click?  I don't see how that is possible unless they are or were DC's at some point.

Yes

there is one object that has something to do with MSMQ settings called base1.

S-s1.JPG

The object with the folder "Mail settings" is the Exchange server.

The first and third objects are member servers.  I am wondering if another admin (no longer here) manually put them in.

Well, there is the "services" part of ADS&S... :)

For the Exchange server...the ADC is for Exchange 5.5 servers or 5.5 servers that have been upgraded to 2000/2003.  I don't think you want to remove that.  I know you can, but not sure if you are supposed to.  That should be a separate question in the Exchange Zone.

For the member servers, as long as there is no service associated with them in ADS&S (look at their properties and any subfolders), then you should be ok to remove them.

I think your Exchange issues stem around the ADC not working correctly once you start moving things.

You are going to love this:

I just finished looking at ADC.  Please keep in mind that my Exchange server is 6.5.

The ADC connector is pointing at a DC that is no longer on the Network!!!

I wonder if this has been the issue.

So:

1) Do I need the connector if I am running 6.5
2)Or just point it at a current DC?

Could this be the whole  Issue?

I pointed ADC at a current DC but am getting at LDAP errors

By 6.5 do you mean 5.5 or do you mean 2000?

ADC is needed if you didn't install a fresh copy of 2000 or 2003 but upgraded from 5.5 (at least that's my understanding).

Thanks for your help. The new site is finally created, the server installed and connectiity, replication is doing just great.  My other issues are probably better addressed to the EXCHANGE GROUP as suggested.  Thanks for you help.

Very welcome.