How many Domain Controllers do i Need?
I have a network of about 1200 computers. I have two Win 2003 R2 domain controllers running AD, DNS, DHCP and DFS for the redirected start menu folders (low load on DFS)
1. HP DL380 G4, Single Xeon 3.2Ghz, 2GB RAM, Mirrored drive
2. Dell Poweredge 1450, Single Xeon 2.8GHz, 4.5GB RAM
Both are a global catalog
We don't currently use exchange
This is a college environment with 6 lessons changes per day, so at least 6 log ons and log offs per computer. We also have a print system, and intranet which is linked into AD for authentication.
This is a single site environment.
How many DCs should I have? Is 2 sufficient?
Thanks.
1. HP DL380 G4, Single Xeon 3.2Ghz, 2GB RAM, Mirrored drive
2. Dell Poweredge 1450, Single Xeon 2.8GHz, 4.5GB RAM
Both are a global catalog
We don't currently use exchange
This is a college environment with 6 lessons changes per day, so at least 6 log ons and log offs per computer. We also have a print system, and intranet which is linked into AD for authentication.
This is a single site environment.
How many DCs should I have? Is 2 sufficient?
Thanks.
RickSheikh
Yes.
You should minimally have two.
Yes it is, where it becomes more evident is if you have lots of policies and they are being applied at logon, but single site 2 DC's should be enough.
Personlly, I would want another one in there too ;) but mainly so I can take one down without effecting perfromance too much.
Personlly, I would want another one in there too ;) but mainly so I can take one down without effecting perfromance too much.
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However I would like to upgrade the DCs to Windows Server 2008 R2 to take advantage of additional features : http://technet.microsoft.com/en-au/library/dd378796%28WS.10%29.aspx
How big is your ntds.dit? Just wondering because you will see a good perf gain if you have enough memory to cache ntds.dit.
I also agree about taking advantage of 2008 R2
There was a similar question at the TechNet forums too http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winserverDS/thread/0af01850-eccb-488a-9c53-7bda784e96b6
On another note a few weeks ago at the MVP summit we did ask the AD team to update AD Sizer...I don't think that is on the top of their priority list :)
Thanks
Mike
I also agree about taking advantage of 2008 R2
There was a similar question at the TechNet forums too http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winserverDS/thread/0af01850-eccb-488a-9c53-7bda784e96b6
On another note a few weeks ago at the MVP summit we did ask the AD team to update AD Sizer...I don't think that is on the top of their priority list :)
Thanks
Mike
Agree with dmazter, I would prefer a third.
Another benefit is that you could go through your upgrade process one server at a time without interrupting production time.
Another benefit is that you could go through your upgrade process one server at a time without interrupting production time.
ASKER
Thanks for the comments. I think i'll deploy a third DC as a virtual guest.
How should I distribute the fsmo roles between the 3 servers?
Also domain functional level is currently 2000 should I upgrade this?
How should I distribute the fsmo roles between the 3 servers?
Also domain functional level is currently 2000 should I upgrade this?
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If the servers are 2003, there's no reason no to elevate the schema to 2003 as well.
Make all the DCs GC servers. PDC Emluator and RID Master should co-exist. The rest of the roles you can spread around as you like.
Make all the DCs GC servers. PDC Emluator and RID Master should co-exist. The rest of the roles you can spread around as you like.
ASKER
Thanks for the replies