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Active Directory Sites point subnet with DC to another site

I have SITE A with a DC named DC-A. Users exist on the same subnet as DC-A, and we'll call this subnet Subnet-A.

DC-A has stopped working correctly, so I want users on Subnet-A to start using one of the other DC on one of the other sites. Can I just assign Subnet-A to use a different site? How will clients in Subnet-A be told to use a different DC if the current DC they point to is not working or replicating?

Govvy

Enable this functionality instead as it will be more scalable:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc733142(WS.10).aspx

Confucious2

dcpromo.exe needs to be run on the dc you wish to promote

Confucious2

ooops sorry, what OS's?

jpletcher1

ASKER

I should have mentioned, the DC in Site-A is running Windows 2003 as are all the other remote DCs. The main office DC is running Windows 2008.

So with that said, I can't use the next closest DC method either.

Govvy

Ah ok, in that case you can just repoint the subnet to Site-B

jpletcher1

ASKER

Does that basically tell everyone in Subnet-A to use Site-B for all of its active directory needs?

Also, how do the the end user machines know to start using the DC in Site-B if the DC they are currently connected to isn't working? (It's actually outdated by about two months because of some failed drives, long story).

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Govvy

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jpletcher1

ASKER

This bad DC is also a DNS server yes. I can repoint that easily enough with the DHCP options if that's what you meant? I can still use the bad DC as a DHCP server in the meantime correct?

Govvy

Yes, if its still functioning for DHCP that is fine. As you say you can update DNS settings in DHCP options