That makes it more difficult.
You need a DC/GC from the root and a DC from the child domain. Once you have your lab, then you need to seize the appropriate FSMO roles from the appropriate domain. Regards, Michael B. Smith MCSE/Exchange MVP http://TheEssentialExchange.com From: MarvinC [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2007 2:54 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Re: Copying AD data to another server (lab) In this domain there's a top level root domain and below that is the domain which contains all of the AD objects I'm trying to bring into the test lab. Except for 2 DC's there are no other objects located in the top level root domain. This domain does contain all of the FSMO roles so I'm wondering if the export should be run from this top level root or the other domain? Since the lower level domain only contains the PDC & RID I'm guessing I'll have to seize or transfer the roles from the DC in the top level root domain? Or will this be necessary once the data is exported? Sorry for any confusion. tia On 12/27/07, Michael B. Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Sure. Just on your "lab" domain you need to seize all the fsmo roles. Regards, Michael B. Smith MCSE/Exchange MVP http://TheEssentialExchange.com <http://theessentialexchange.com/> 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> ~
