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Backup virtual domain controller replication

My company wants to create two virtual 2008 R2 servers on laptops in case of emergency. This way we can run a bare bones network with a DC and file server until we bring the main network back online. My question is that if I create a new DC with DNS obviously and then shut down the virtual machine until several days before a storm is likely to hit us will AD ans DNS continue to try and replicate to that machine even though it is not on? Also, will the PDC put that DC into tombstone state if is unable to successfully replicate to it for a certain period of time. I would like to be able to set this emergency DC up, so I can use my NTFS permissions on the file server, but I do not want to cause more problems in the meantime. Any help and advice would be much appreciated with this.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Mike Kline

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KBElectronics

ASKER

Thanks Mike. We actually do have to physical DC's in the building, the virtual DC on the laptop was meant to be physically locked up and brought out in the event a hurricane was approaching us. Then I would bring the server online, have it replicate and I could atleast have AD info on the laptop to run a skleton network if we lose the main. Once they see the DC is offline, will they continuously try to replicate, I do not want to stuff the event log with Ntfrs errors all day long ? Great link, exactly what my next questions was going to be regarding TSL.

Neil Russell

Can your laptop not be physically locked up in a place that has power and wifi? You could then just leave it on ALL the time and you have a second DC AND it will always be 100% upto date and ready to go.
P.S.
dont foget to make it a Global Catalog Server :P