Additional DC

[Chuckster]

I have one DC and 2 member servers. I was thinking of adding another server that'll be a second DC to share the load with the other DC. I was wondering if I did do that, is there anything other than doing DCPROMO on the 2nd server that'll need doing? Things like FSMO roles. Should I be concerned about that?

[kmount]

Entirely up to you!

I wouldn't bother too much if its only 2 DCs as you can share enough load (DNS/Authentication/etc) without messing with FSMO roles.

[FN-GM]

Yep leave the FMSO roles, just make the second DC a DNS server and Global Catalogue and your good to go

[powdarrmonkey]

I wouldn't bother with making it a global catalogue, unless you have domain trusts in place and many, many users who are crossing the security boundaries. If not, all it will do is generate replication traffic.

[FN-GM]

Although it will increase the redundancy of the other DC. IF ones fails while your offside they can still run on the other DC.

[powdarrmonkey]

Only if you have multiple domains. With only one domain in a forest, a global catalogue brings you no additional benefits because its purpose is to allow searching of other domains in the forest without knowing their full name.

Edit: That's unless you're using Exchange in the same domain, which relies on GCs for the global address books.

Edit: Actually, I'm talking total , you need a GC for logon requests Sorry. I haven't had much coffee today.

[FN-GM]

You got me lost then, i was going to say you need it to logon. We all have those days.

Personally i would have another just in case, it will make more network traffic but on a LAN it wont be noticeable.

Z

[Jon]

This should explain all you need to know about global catalouge servers.

What Is the Global Catalog?: Active Directory