Trying to add a 2nd DC

[DrSpock]

I currently have an old DC running AD and Exchange. We have built a new server and i'm trying to promote the new server to be a 2nd DC in my network. Then i'll slowly switch it to be the primary and demote the old server.

My problelm is that i cannot add the new server as a DC because it can't find the domain. If i run dcpromo, i get this error...

The domain "xyz.net" is not an Active Directory domain, or an Active Directory domain controller for the domain could not be contacted.

I get this error after i fill in the username, password, and domain. Now, if i type in xyz and click next, it works, but i get an error at the end. So, obviously, i have a dns issue here. I have tried everything, so here is what i already know...

1. I do NOT have a single-label domain error. If i look at the computer name, it says that the domain is xzy.net
2. I do NOT have a disjointed namespace. The full computer name is xxx.xyz.net and the domain is xyz.net
3. The dns of the new server is pointed to the ip address of the old server
4. The new computer is a member of the domain
5. Under my dns in the old computer, i do not have any SRV records, but i do have A, SOA, and NS. *Potential problem?*
6. Under my dns in the old computer, the forward lookup zone is xxx.xyz.net

So i have pretty much tried everything. Please, if you have any solutions that i can try please post. I really need to get the new server promoted to a DC. Thanks for your help.

*EDIT*
And for clairity sakes...

The old computer = Current DC that will be replaced
The new computer = Computer that i'm trying to promote.

 

[MiniDoom]

In advanced tcpip properties try checking "register this connections address in dns".

 

[DrSpock]

That box was already checked.

 

[MiniDoom]

How about the box below, I remember having the same problem and one of those fixed it.

 

[DrSpock]

That didn't work either, but i'm getting a new error.....(maybe from checking the box or something i did while playing with it)

The wizard cannot gain access to the list of domains in the forest. This condition may be caused by a DNS lookup problem. ......

 

[rbrandon]

check your DNS settings on the 2nd computer. It should point to the DC, not your ISP's DNS server.

 

[stash]

5. Under my dns in the old computer, i do not have any SRV records, but i do have A, SOA, and NS. *Potential problem?*

Yes.

6. Under my dns in the old computer, the forward lookup zone is xxx.xyz.net

This is your real problem. Your forward lookup zone needs to be xyz.net, not xxx.xyz.net which is the FQDN of the domain controller. Delete the existing zone and create a new Active Directory integrated zone called xyz.net. Make sure dynamic updates are enabled on the new zone.

Then verify that the old DC is pointing to itself for primary DNS. You should not have an alternate configured. Then run the following commands:

ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns
net stop netlogon & net start netlogon

 

[DrSpock]

I have tried this and i still get the same error message. I put in the srv records for _tcp and _udp and i stil can't get it to work. Do you guys have anything else i can try?

If i can't get this to work, then i'll have to redo everything. If i got an idenitical server setup and then unplugged the old one and plugged in the new one, would i have a problem with users loggin into the new server? I know there are 5 FSMO roles that would have a new server. Would i have to readd each user to the new server?

 

[stash]

Can you run netdiag /v > output.txt on that server and post the output.txt here?

 

[DrSpock]

After playing around with it, my new server is able to see my domain. Thanks a lot for your help on that one. Now i have a new error.

The opertain failed becasue: Failed to modify the necessary properties for the machine account SERVER$ "Access is denied"

I get this when it tries to install the AD settings on my new server. Any Ideas?

*EDIT* SERVER$ = the new server

 

[DrSpock]

Thanks for all the help, but i was able to figure it out.

 

[Schoolies]

So what was the solution to your problems?