Current Schema Master (offline)
Contrary to what the title is. The schema is not actually offline. So let me try to explain what is going on.
1. We had 2 servers (DC1 and DC2). DC1 was due for a replacement so some of our guys built a new server (DC3). DC1 and DC2 were the DNS servers. They ran dcpromo on DC3 and installed the DNS role and let it replicate a few days.
2. So this is where are problem starts and not sure if it was related to DC3 coming online. But my co-worker and I tried to dcpromo DC1 and take it offline. But we were running into an error each time. So we logged into all of our DCs and opened the Schema snap in and we would right click "Active Directory Schema" and 4 out of 5 would show us the same thing.
Currrent Schema Master (offline)
Error
But the Schema Master is actually online. When we ran netdom query fsmo on all of the DCs they showed which server has all of the roles. But the GUI always would show the error above. We would leave it open for awhile in case of latency at the different sites and it still does not work.
I have tried searching on the Internet and I cannot find anything about this. All articles assume your Schema Master is really offline but ours is not. I want to lean towards DNS because ultimately we did remove DC1 and replaced it with DC3. Possibly because of that error we had to do a forceremoval because the normal one wouldn't work. We did the metadata cleanup per the Microsoft article and cleaned up DNS. But we can't help but think that some remnant of DC1 may be left behind and we are just missing it.
Any ideas on what could be causing this are appreciated.
1. We had 2 servers (DC1 and DC2). DC1 was due for a replacement so some of our guys built a new server (DC3). DC1 and DC2 were the DNS servers. They ran dcpromo on DC3 and installed the DNS role and let it replicate a few days.
2. So this is where are problem starts and not sure if it was related to DC3 coming online. But my co-worker and I tried to dcpromo DC1 and take it offline. But we were running into an error each time. So we logged into all of our DCs and opened the Schema snap in and we would right click "Active Directory Schema" and 4 out of 5 would show us the same thing.
Currrent Schema Master (offline)
Error
But the Schema Master is actually online. When we ran netdom query fsmo on all of the DCs they showed which server has all of the roles. But the GUI always would show the error above. We would leave it open for awhile in case of latency at the different sites and it still does not work.
I have tried searching on the Internet and I cannot find anything about this. All articles assume your Schema Master is really offline but ours is not. I want to lean towards DNS because ultimately we did remove DC1 and replaced it with DC3. Possibly because of that error we had to do a forceremoval because the normal one wouldn't work. We did the metadata cleanup per the Microsoft article and cleaned up DNS. But we can't help but think that some remnant of DC1 may be left behind and we are just missing it.
Any ideas on what could be causing this are appreciated.
What was the error DCpromo showed you?
Run dcdiag post results
ASKER
Well when we go to dcpromo a server we get this.
The operation failed because:
Active Directory Domain Services could not transfer the remaining data in directory partition.
"The directory service is missing mandatory configuration information, and is unable to determine the ownership of floating single-master operation roles."
Now we have looked elsewhere online and tried the various possible fixes but we get the same thing. For example one site says that this error means that Ownership of the FSMO role is set to a server which is deleted or does not exist. However that server is in the states and is not going anywhere soon. I work in the middle east and that stateside server is the schema master. Now when I do the DOS command it shows all of the role owners. But not in the GUI. Also when we have to dcpromo a server we have to always use /forceremove. We think it is because of this error.
The operation failed because:
Active Directory Domain Services could not transfer the remaining data in directory partition.
"The directory service is missing mandatory configuration information, and is unable to determine the ownership of floating single-master operation roles."
Now we have looked elsewhere online and tried the various possible fixes but we get the same thing. For example one site says that this error means that Ownership of the FSMO role is set to a server which is deleted or does not exist. However that server is in the states and is not going anywhere soon. I work in the middle east and that stateside server is the schema master. Now when I do the DOS command it shows all of the role owners. But not in the GUI. Also when we have to dcpromo a server we have to always use /forceremove. We think it is because of this error.
Have you tried seizing the roles
Seize FSMO role:
http://www.petri.co.il/seizing_fsmo_roles.htm
But here you will need to demote/promote the server who is current FSMO owner
Seize FSMO role:
http://www.petri.co.il/seizing_fsmo_roles.htm
But here you will need to demote/promote the server who is current FSMO owner
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ASKER
It was actually something that was figured out on our end. There was no real answer to this. We just stumbled upon the solution after some trial and erro.
Metadata cleanup:
http://www.petri.co.il/delete_failed_dcs_from_ad.htm
What is current status
The current schema master is online or offline
What roles were there on DC which was cleaned up
is there any replication issues run repadmin /replsum to check and post the output here if you face any issues