Indexes are defined in the schema, and the schema is the same throughout the forest. As far as I know, there are no additional indexes on GCs.
Little known fact: Active Directory knows to short circuit certain operations that require a GC if it knows it is in a single domain environment. For example, when processing native mode user logons a DC in a single domain environment knows that it does not need to contact a GC to expand the user's Universal Group memberships - it just has to look in the local domain for all group memberships. The same cannot be said for all AD-aware applications, including things like Exchange 2000 or more mundane things like the Object Picker on Windows client machines. For good reasons, many of these apps don't try to make special cases for certain environments and always expect a GC to be present. For this reason, it is a best practice to make all DCs into GCs in a single domain environment. There is virtually no overhead in making a DC into a GC (in a single domain environment). The DC simply registers in DNS as a GC, opens the GC port, and responds appropriately to GC queries. Cheers, Stuart [This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.] -----Original Message----- From: Roger Seielstad [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 8:20 AM To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] AD Lab I believe the GCs do a number of additional processes, including changing the index structure. >From "Design Considerations for Windows 2000 Active Directory with Exchange 2000 Server in Mind" (in Technet): "Universal Groups also carry some baggage with their usage. Universal group membership must be determined at the time of logon. Because the scope of Universal groups is universal, propagation of this group type is done through the global catalog. Thus, not only does the Universal group itself replicate globally, but the membership of that group also replicates. Universal groups with a large membership generate additional replication overhead the membership of the Universal group changes. " Taking another angle - in a single domain, why WOULDN'T you make all your DC's Global Catalogs as well? There's no replication hit for it... ------------------------------------------------------ Roger D. Seielstad - MCSE Sr. Systems Administrator Inovis - Formerly Harbinger and Extricity Atlanta, GA > -----Original Message----- > From: Gil Kirkpatrick [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 10:46 AM > To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' > Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] AD Lab > > > Hey Roger, > > Say more about "expanding certain groups"... that's one I was > unaware of. > And also, don't GC create some additional indices that DCs > don't normally > have? > > -gil > > -----Original Message----- > From: Roger Seielstad [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 8:50 AM > To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' > Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] AD Lab > > > That's not entirely correct. All the information is indeed > there, but global > catalogs do a few things DCs don't (like expanding certain groups) and > therefore you need GC's. > > ------------------------------------------------------ > Roger D. Seielstad - MCSE > Sr. Systems Administrator > Inovis - Formerly Harbinger and Extricity > Atlanta, GA > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Van Donk, Fred [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > > Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 9:22 AM > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] AD Lab > > > > > > When you have one domain there is not really a need for > > multiple GC's. Every DC already has a full copy of the AD. > > GC's play a more important role when you have a forest with > > multiple domains in it. > > But there needs to be at least one GC in the forest. Even > > with one domain. > > > > Fred > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Craig Cerino [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > > Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 8:35 AM > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] AD Lab > > > > > > If you only have one DC in each site - -- yer pretty > > much tied to doing that. If you have the resources I'd > > through a second DC in each site - - make that your GC. > > > > Jus my 2 cents > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Pelle, Joe [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > > Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 8:17 AM > > To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' > > Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] AD Lab > > > > If we have one domain - but multiple sites - would it > > be a best practice to put a global catalog on the domain > > controller(s) at each site? > > > > KB: > > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us; > 313994 > > > Thanks! > > Joe Pelle > Systems Administrator > Information Technology > Valassis / Targeted Print & Media Solutions > 35955 Schoolcraft Rd. Livonia, MI 48150 > Tel 734.632.3753 Fax 734.632.6240 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > http://www.valassis.com/ > This message may have included proprietary or protected > information. > This message and the information contained herein are not to > be further > communicated without my express written consent. > -----Original Message----- > From: Rene Chakraborty [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Monday, January 06, 2003 8:41 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [ActiveDir] AD Lab > > Got to make that BDC a Global Catalog Server before you more it > over. > > > Sites and Services > > Rene > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Don Murawski (Lenox) > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, January 06, 2003 3:08 PM > Subject: [ActiveDir] AD Lab > > Has anyone setup a AD Lab and had Global > Catalog problems? > I installed a BDC on the production network, > disconnect it > from the production and connected it to the lab network. > Seize the FSMO roles. > I'm able to join the domain but, I'm receiving > "Unable to > establish connection with a GC. > > Any suggestion would be great. > > > List info : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm > List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm > List archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%> 40mail.activedir.org/ > > List info : > http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm > List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm > List archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%> 40mail.activedir.org/ > List info : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/ List info : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/
