We currently have a forest including 2 domains (domain / subdomain) domain.in and branchoffice.domain.in
The last/only DC for the subdomain branchoffice.domain.in is now permanently offline due to hardware failure, and what we want to do is remove the orphaned server and the orphaned subdomain from AD so we can 'reconstruct' it afterwards on new hardware (only same subdomain name, no user/loggin information which is lost).
The procedure we're considering since dcpromo is not an option is removing the subdomain controller according to MS KB 216498 and then remove the entire subdomain according to MS KB 230306 both using ntdsutil.
The problem comes from the fact that the DC for the branchoffice subdomain was the last one, so when we connect (ntdsutil) in the domain.in server and chose the subdomain server for removal we get the warning message "the metadata cleanup for the requested server should happen on a dc in the same domain as the requested server so that FRS state can be removed. However no such dc could be found. Do you wish to continue?"
I've tried finding any guidance on what to do when the server you remove is the last one but with no luck. Articles seem to agree that the server removal should happen from another dc in the same domain, but there's nothing about the removal of the last of the servers.
Any thoughts on whether it's 'safe' to do it from an upper level DC (the DC of the domain.in domain)?
All servers are 2003 R2 with sp2
thank you in advance for any input
Dimitris Zoupas
The last/only DC for the subdomain branchoffice.domain.in is now permanently offline due to hardware failure, and what we want to do is remove the orphaned server and the orphaned subdomain from AD so we can 'reconstruct' it afterwards on new hardware (only same subdomain name, no user/loggin information which is lost).
The procedure we're considering since dcpromo is not an option is removing the subdomain controller according to MS KB 216498 and then remove the entire subdomain according to MS KB 230306 both using ntdsutil.
The problem comes from the fact that the DC for the branchoffice subdomain was the last one, so when we connect (ntdsutil) in the domain.in server and chose the subdomain server for removal we get the warning message "the metadata cleanup for the requested server should happen on a dc in the same domain as the requested server so that FRS state can be removed. However no such dc could be found. Do you wish to continue?"
I've tried finding any guidance on what to do when the server you remove is the last one but with no luck. Articles seem to agree that the server removal should happen from another dc in the same domain, but there's nothing about the removal of the last of the servers.
Any thoughts on whether it's 'safe' to do it from an upper level DC (the DC of the domain.in domain)?
All servers are 2003 R2 with sp2
thank you in advance for any input
Dimitris Zoupas
