FWeston
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Uninstall AD from SQL server - problems?
I have a Windows 2008 R2 server that is a domain controller and also has SQL 2008 installed. I want to remove the AD role and convert this to a standard member server without affecting SQL. There are other DCs in the domain, but currently this server is the only one in this AD site. I will be provisioning a new server and making it a DC before I demote this server.
Will there be any problems with this approach and are there any special considerations I should be aware of?
Will there be any problems with this approach and are there any special considerations I should be aware of?
So special considerations unless this DC is also an FSMO role holder, in which case you'd want to move the role before demoting the old DC.
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Interesting!
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Thanks for the info.
I didn't include all the info because my primary concern was SQL server.
This server is a FSMO role holder, but we will move those roles before removing the AD DS role. It is also a DNS server, but the same applies there, we will move DNS duties elsewhere.
We have already built two separate servers - one of which has SQL 2008 installed and all DBs from the current server will be detached and moved there. The other new server is a new AD DC. At the end of the process, this server will go away entirely. None of these are physical machines, so luckily there is no need to worry about the physical aspect.
seth2740: the article you linked says once SQL is installed the server role can't be changed. We've already done that once - this is an AWS machine and it had SQL server installed as soon as it was provisioned because SQL was installed in the image this machine came from. We installed AD DS after SQL was already on the box and it didn't cause any problems. It would be great if you had any info about uninstalling AD DS on a SQL server vs installing AD DS on a domain controller.
I didn't include all the info because my primary concern was SQL server.
This server is a FSMO role holder, but we will move those roles before removing the AD DS role. It is also a DNS server, but the same applies there, we will move DNS duties elsewhere.
We have already built two separate servers - one of which has SQL 2008 installed and all DBs from the current server will be detached and moved there. The other new server is a new AD DC. At the end of the process, this server will go away entirely. None of these are physical machines, so luckily there is no need to worry about the physical aspect.
seth2740: the article you linked says once SQL is installed the server role can't be changed. We've already done that once - this is an AWS machine and it had SQL server installed as soon as it was provisioned because SQL was installed in the image this machine came from. We installed AD DS after SQL was already on the box and it didn't cause any problems. It would be great if you had any info about uninstalling AD DS on a SQL server vs installing AD DS on a domain controller.
not recommended so never done it
however, to answer your question, there could be some various issues like account logon problems
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/sqlserver/en-US/879c9c63-8069-43db-8593-7149ee273054/cannot-start-any-sql-server-services-to-run-the-server-after-demoting-a-dc?forum=sqldatabaseengine
however, to answer your question, there could be some various issues like account logon problems
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/sqlserver/en-US/879c9c63-8069-43db-8593-7149ee273054/cannot-start-any-sql-server-services-to-run-the-server-after-demoting-a-dc?forum=sqldatabaseengine
the link i posted in my first post answers the original question
I suggest that you add the Windows 2008 R2 topic to this question, because its a matter of how easily you can demote a controller to an ordinary member server.
The other thing to bear in mind is that often DC have other services - DHCP/DNS/WINS etc - that need to be removed as well.
As a DBA I suggest it would be easier to build a new member server, and migrate the databases etc to the new server, then repurpose the existing one, sell on the second hand market, use as a test machine, etc.
Regards
David