Marvin, I would use ldifde for this task. Basically it exports your production AD to a .csv and then within the CSV, I would find/replace your production domain name to something else. After that, Build a test domain and DC with the domain name matching what your renamed inside the .csv file. From there import the data into your new test AD environment.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/237677 HTH, Shook http://www.linkedin.com/in/andyshook ________________________________ From: MarvinC [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2007 10:12 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Copying AD data to another server (lab) I may have asked this but don't recall getting a response so excuse me for posting it again but I need to know if this is possible. Has anyone ever tried and/or been successful at moving active directory data to an alternate server? I'm trying to create a test lab for this environment and wanted to copy the existing AD structure to the new test server. As of right now I've brought up a new server on the network, ran dcpromo and selected it to function as a DC in an existing domain. I take the server off the network and log in with cached credentials but when trying to open ADUC I'm informed that the "Naming information cannot be located because the specified domain doesn't exist or cannot be contacted". I'm sure one of the reasons is the FSMO roles so I'm trying to figure out the best way to get them and the entire forest moved to this new server. In NT4 you could configure a server to be a BDC, take it offline, and then promote it to a PDC and the entire structure would remain intact. Is this possible with Windows Server 2003 SP2? ANY responses appreciated. ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~
