Backup Domain Controllers

Hi Guys,

I am planning to implement a backup domain controller for added redundency but I need to know exactly what does the backup controller do.

I know that it'll replicate my Active Directory but I need to know more information for eg:

Are the settings for all my shares also replicated and what if all my printers are installed on the primary domain controller, are they also replicated?

Also, are all my DNS settings replicated or is this a separate process for DNS?

Thanks all.

To start you have to loose what you think based on NT. W2K is totally different and there are NO backup domain controllers. W2K ONLY has peer to peer servers.

Yes you should have a secondary AD server. Both have to be checked to contain the global catalog. You want to move one or two of the FSMO roles to the 2nd server. You do both of these for fault tolerance of AD and load balancing. Leave schema master where it is.

You have to condigure DNS and no printers/shares are setup on the 2nd server automatically. This is where you might want to consider DFS and replicated the shared data between the servers. Primary goes down you can redo the dfs pointers to the other server and you are off and running.