backup domain controller won't function

i've got two domain controllers in the same active directory domain running
server 2003. the first one that i installed crashed and will not reboot. i
expected the domain controller operations to continue uninterrupted because
of the second controller. it shows up in "active directory users and
computers" with all the same characteristics as the first controller. but
when i run "active directory domains and trusts" and right-click on the
domain and select "manage", i get:

naming information cannot be located for the following reasons:
the server is not operational

as well, i cannot join new computers to the domain. when i try to connect,
the workstation says:

a domain controller for the domain LAKESHORE could not be contacted.

it's my impression that there are no "primary" and "secondary" or backup
controllers in an active directory domain, so it would seem i shouldn't have
to do anything to get the second controller to take over. any idea what the
problem is? thanks for any help

gary


--
Gary Roach
ADB Services

You will probably get a detailed reply from the AD group, but basically
the problem is that not all AD servers are equal. The first DC in a forest
and/or domain has a special place in the heirachy, and not all roles are
replicated to other servers. There are techniques to sieze these roles if
your first server dies. See KB 223787 .

"Gary Roach" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> i've got two domain controllers in the same active directory domain
running
> server 2003. the first one that i installed crashed and will not reboot. i
> expected the domain controller operations to continue uninterrupted
because
> of the second controller. it shows up in "active directory users and
> computers" with all the same characteristics as the first controller. but
> when i run "active directory domains and trusts" and right-click on the
> domain and select "manage", i get:
>
> naming information cannot be located for the following reasons:
> the server is not operational
>
> as well, i cannot join new computers to the domain. when i try to connect,
> the workstation says:
>
> a domain controller for the domain LAKESHORE could not be contacted.
>
> it's my impression that there are no "primary" and "secondary" or backup
> controllers in an active directory domain, so it would seem i shouldn't
have
> to do anything to get the second controller to take over. any idea what
the
> problem is? thanks for any help
>
> gary
>
>
> --
> Gary Roach
> ADB Services
>
>

Yes, good answer.

Basically there are three roles per domain (and another two for the whole
forest) that perform additional actions. Have a look at this article for a
quick introduction into the FSMO roles:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=197132

I'd suggest a quick search on google, to gather additional information on
these roles and their functions in the directory.

--

Paul Williams
_________________________________________
http://www.msresource.net - Under construction, but coming soon...


Join us in our new forums!
http://forums.msresource.net
_________________________________________


"Bill Grant" <not.available@online> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> You will probably get a detailed reply from the AD group, but basically
> the problem is that not all AD servers are equal. The first DC in a forest
> and/or domain has a special place in the heirachy, and not all roles are
> replicated to other servers. There are techniques to sieze these roles if
> your first server dies. See KB 223787 .
>
> "Gary Roach" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > i've got two domain controllers in the same active directory domain
> running
> > server 2003. the first one that i installed crashed and will not reboot.
i
> > expected the domain controller operations to continue uninterrupted
> because
> > of the second controller. it shows up in "active directory users and
> > computers" with all the same characteristics as the first controller.
but
> > when i run "active directory domains and trusts" and right-click on the
> > domain and select "manage", i get:
> >
> > naming information cannot be located for the following reasons:
> > the server is not operational
> >
> > as well, i cannot join new computers to the domain. when i try to
connect,
> > the workstation says:
> >
> > a domain controller for the domain LAKESHORE could not be contacted.
> >
> > it's my impression that there are no "primary" and "secondary" or backup
> > controllers in an active directory domain, so it would seem i shouldn't
> have
> > to do anything to get the second controller to take over. any idea what
> the
> > problem is? thanks for any help
> >
> > gary
> >
> >
> > --
> > Gary Roach
> > ADB Services
> >
> >
>
>

thanks a lot for the pointers - i'm new to this and i have yet to learn
about roles.

"ptwilliams" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Yes, good answer.
>
> Basically there are three roles per domain (and another two for the whole
> forest) that perform additional actions. Have a look at this article for
a
> quick introduction into the FSMO roles:
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=197132
>
> I'd suggest a quick search on google, to gather additional information on
> these roles and their functions in the directory.
>
> --
>
> Paul Williams
> _________________________________________
> http://www.msresource.net - Under construction, but coming soon...
>
>
> Join us in our new forums!
> http://forums.msresource.net
> _________________________________________
>
>
> "Bill Grant" <not.available@online> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > You will probably get a detailed reply from the AD group, but
basically
> > the problem is that not all AD servers are equal. The first DC in a
forest
> > and/or domain has a special place in the heirachy, and not all roles are
> > replicated to other servers. There are techniques to sieze these roles
if
> > your first server dies. See KB 223787 .
> >
> > "Gary Roach" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > i've got two domain controllers in the same active directory domain
> > running
> > > server 2003. the first one that i installed crashed and will not
reboot.
> i
> > > expected the domain controller operations to continue uninterrupted
> > because
> > > of the second controller. it shows up in "active directory users and
> > > computers" with all the same characteristics as the first controller.
> but
> > > when i run "active directory domains and trusts" and right-click on
the
> > > domain and select "manage", i get:
> > >
> > > naming information cannot be located for the following reasons:
> > > the server is not operational
> > >
> > > as well, i cannot join new computers to the domain. when i try to
> connect,
> > > the workstation says:
> > >
> > > a domain controller for the domain LAKESHORE could not be contacted.
> > >
> > > it's my impression that there are no "primary" and "secondary" or
backup
> > > controllers in an active directory domain, so it would seem i
shouldn't
> > have
> > > to do anything to get the second controller to take over. any idea
what
> > the
> > > problem is? thanks for any help
> > >
> > > gary
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Gary Roach
> > > ADB Services
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>