When is it too late to power back on a Secondary DC that's been offline for 26 days?
We had a backup server's hardware fail & take out one of our secondary domain controllers with it. The failed dc is a writable Windows Server 2008 R2 but with no FSMO roles attached to it. The hardware has been fixed but the secondary dc has been offline for 26 days now. Is it safe to bring back online without any consequences?
Both our Primary (Windows Server 2012 R2) and two other secondary's (Windows Server 2012 R2 & Windows Server 2008 R2) have remained online during this time frame and our functioning correctly.
Thanks for your time.
Both our Primary (Windows Server 2012 R2) and two other secondary's (Windows Server 2012 R2 & Windows Server 2008 R2) have remained online during this time frame and our functioning correctly.
Thanks for your time.
I think that the default setting is 60 days, but it can be changed.
You should be able to bring the repaired server online and have it replicate properly. On the other hand, if you have 3 DCs that are working properly I would consider removing and reinstalling AD on the server and then promote it. It should get everything it needs from the other DCs.
You should be able to bring the repaired server online and have it replicate properly. On the other hand, if you have 3 DCs that are working properly I would consider removing and reinstalling AD on the server and then promote it. It should get everything it needs from the other DCs.
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thanks to all who contributed answers to my post. it is much appreciated. well done.
note I assume this was just a hardware failure, and you didn't restore a backup of the DC.
If you did restore a backup of the DC, then DO NOT turn it on, that can cause major issues with your domain.
restoring DCs from backup requires a very specific set of steps, I find in that case its always easier to treat the DC as lost, clear the meta Data for it, build a new replacement DC from scratch and join it and then promote it verses dealing with getting the restore right.
If you did restore a backup of the DC, then DO NOT turn it on, that can cause major issues with your domain.
restoring DCs from backup requires a very specific set of steps, I find in that case its always easier to treat the DC as lost, clear the meta Data for it, build a new replacement DC from scratch and join it and then promote it verses dealing with getting the restore right.
glad to help
:)