Some of the lesser implemented good practices for domain controllers are: Run the Server Core installation of the operating system. Does not perform the validation tests and overwrites any existing dccloneconfig.xml. A DC was often used too. Confirm replication and clean dcdiags again. Your email address will not be published. If the hypervisor is Microsoft Hyper-V, ensure it is running on Windows Server 2012 . However, if all writable domain controllers are restoring simultaneously, none of them can find a valid source. Otherwise, you cannot parse this traffic. Some examples of ways organizations keep their DCs secure include: Limit the use of Domain Admin privileges Use jump boxes for RDP access or MMC access. To delete snapshots, select a VM and delete the snapshot subtree. Veeam Backup & Replication v7 with Patch 3 and onwards) know how to deal with this. Article Summary: This article provides best-practice recommendations for configuring DNS in an Active Directory domain. The purpose of this series is intended to aid you with the successful backup and recovery of Active Directory Domain Services with Veeam, giving you all the keys to painless AD protection. Hello, Use the shutdown button within the running DC, or the Hyper-V Manager shutdown button. The GPOs have a fixed GUID and can be targeted directly using these by the legacy APIs mentioned above. Limit both physical and remote access to your DC as much as possible. If copying files manually, delete any snapshots prior to copying. Spin up a new server with the same name and IP, but only after making absolutely sure DNS, Sites and Services, and Users and Computers contain no trace of the old name/IP. This posting is provided AS-IS with no warranties or guarantees and confers no rights. When cloning a domain that contains only a single domain controller, you must ensure the source DC is back online before starting the clone copies. Best Practice #5: Always use a Group Policy Object linked to the Domain Controllers OU to set the Audit Policy. Review the previous Platform Requirements section for known VM-Generation ID support. Specify the VM name, memory, and network. I hope that helps and has answered your questions. An RODC is a new type of domain controller that hosts read-only partitions of the Active Directory database. etc ?). The restore architecture of FRS and DFSR require setting their replica instance to non-authoritative sync mode. How to Set Up a Domain Controller + Best Practices Configure a stand-alone server for your domain controller. Is it ok to make changes to the DDP and DDCP GPOs, or should I leave them alone and create new policies? Use the following commands in an administrator-elevated Windows PowerShell console prompt. Complete List of Technical Blogs: http://www.delawarecountycomputerconsulting.com/technicalblogs.php. Perhaps use WSUS to patch DCs and SCCM for everything else. This also means when using non-fully routed networks, virtualized domain controller cloning requires network segments with access to the PDCE. The DcCloneConfig.xml file is required for cloning Domain controllers. As an alternative to copying the disks, you can export the entire Hyper-V VM as a copy. Depending on the selection made in the copying disks phase, you have two options: If you copied the system disk manually, you must create a new virtual machine using the copied disk. This topic provides Windows PowerShell samples for you to explore end-to-end automation of the cloning process; they are not required for any steps. This reconciles the existing VHD/VHDX files into a single new portable unit that is not at risk of restoring previous snapshots. What is Microsoft's best practice for where and how many DNS servers exist? So, a while later, you might notice an internal warning in server logs event 2089,stating that there was no backup for backup latency interval days. Microsoft MVP - Directory Services Best Practices: Deploy and Setup Domain Controller, How to deploy and setup Domain Controller, [Free Guide]Active Directory Security Best Practices. Here is the Powershell commands you can use to demote a domain controller. This article doesnt intendto cover a process of Veeam Backup & Replication installation and configuration, as its already been defined a few times. You can use the Hyper-V Windows PowerShell module to automate VM import in Windows Server 2012, using the following cmdlets: For example, here the exported VM DC2-CLONED is imported using its automatically determined XML file, then renamed immediately to its new VM name DC5-CLONEDFROMDC2: Remember to remove any imported snapshots, using the following cmdlets: Ensure that, when importing the computer, static MAC addresses were not assigned to the source domain controller. Look into DNS and make sure both servers are in there, then drill down through all of those Active Directory folders (zones) in DNS and make sure both servers are listed at each zone. So, when it was time to provision a new file server, DHCP server, or print server, administrators often just tapped an existing server. Before reading this, you might want to take a look at theBest practices for AD administrationseries we posted a while ago. Specifies the static IPv4 subnet mask of the cloned computer. Specifies the static IPv4 address of the cloned computer. Yes and no. If there are any errors, the server is set to start in Directory Services Restore Mode for investigation. Many of these practices are documented. Account of an enterprise administrator or domain administrator. System Event Logs should be checked on a regular basis. An administrative choice is required in the copying phase: All of a virtual machine's disks must be copied, not just the system drive. The Azure platform handles the DCs as part of the managed domain, including backups. Professional Gaming & Can Build A Career In It. But not many organizations are implementing these practices. To assist MDMarra's answer: You should NEVER use a single-label DNS name for your domain name either. As long as at least one is converged, it is generally safe to restore the snapshot, as transitive replication eventually reconciles the other servers. 3 CSS Properties You Should Know Not only is Active Directory a great power, but its also a great responsibility and it requires spending a lot of time with it in order to maximize its capabilities. If you are using Azure AD as your domain controller you can ignore this step. Domain Controllers should be patched on regular basis, two minimize security vulnerabilities and to increase stability. Prepare the source domain controller Set a new unique static or dynamic MAC address if this is the case. Solution: Best practice is (last time I checked) still to have the local domain as something like local.xyz.com or ad.xyz.com.If you use xyz.com as your local [SOLVED] Best Practice For New Domain Controller Naming Scheme - Active Directory & GPO If you are migrating VMs from a source hypervisor to a different target hypervisor, virtualization safeguards may or may not be triggered depending on whether the hypervisors support VM-Generation ID, as explained in the following table. Successful backup is great for starters, but thats not all you need. Restrict RDP access Physical and virtual security Regular patching Restrict Internet access Its almost impossible to imagine how system administrators would be able to do their jobs effectively if this technology didnt exist. For example, use build automation through deployment tools such as System Center Configuration Manager. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The commonly known best practices for deploying domain controllers has changed a lot over the years. The PDCE creates this group when that FSMO role transfers to a Windows Server 2012 domain controller. 1. Though it does also say that User Rights and Audit must be made to the default GPO.. Learn what domain controllers hold Flexible Single Master Operations (FSMO) roles in your environment. The installer adds the Exchange Servers group to the Manage Auditing and Security Log User Right (also referred to as SACL right). According to Microsoft recommendation, the Best Practice is to split the FSMO roles between the different domain controllers. The entire network is dependent on the domain controller's uptime. You can combine the following Active Directory Windows PowerShell Module cmdlets to return the version of the PDC emulator: If not provided the domain, these cmdlets assume the domain of the computer where run. As for details, you should have Veeam Backup & Replication installed and configured. This explains in detail the entire virtualized domain controller cloning process. This requires installation of the Desktop Experience feature on Windows Server 2012. There is no way to set Ipv6 static information in virtualized domain controller cloning. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. However, changes cannot be made to the database that is stored on the RODC. If you have only one domain controller, it is recommended you to deploy an additional DC. Built-in templates provide best practices. When possible, domain controllers should be configured with Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chips and all volumes in the domain controller servers should be protected via BitLocker Drive Encryption. The latter is useful in lab environments where the domain controller often operates on a private virtualized network. Best practice is not to set this too high (I set it to 2008R2 for the AD recycle bin), so in case your company ever merges or gets bought by another company, your forest level isn't incompatible. But, if you need help with that, please refer to the followingvideorecorded by a Veeam system engineer. The CustomDCCloneAllowList.xml file is optional unless you install applications or potentially incompatible Windows services on the source domain controller. Achieving Active Directory (AD) Integrity in Virtual Environments After cloning begins, the cloning checks these locations in that specific order and uses the first DcCloneConfig.xml file found, regardless of the other folder's contents. Click the newly copied VHD/VHDX file that contains the source DC's system drive or DSA Working Directory location folder, and then click Mount from the Disc Image Tools menu. Otherwise, you will have to transfer roles manually after the restore with, If you have multiple Domain Controllers for the site and youre looking for individual objects protection, theres no need to backup all DCs, as for item-level recovery, one copy of Active Directory database (ntds.dit) would be sufficient, There are things that can always mitigate the risk of accidental/intentional deletion/change of AD objects. Surface Studio vs iMac - Which Should You Pick? Oh, to be specific, best practices: 1) Use the UF, not WMI (especially on busier servers). This way if anything happened on-premises, the Azure and Office 365 environments would still be fully functional (assuming users have Internet access). In addition, there are likely network guys, cabling guys, and IT management with data center access. As a general rule of thumb, however, I would recommend assigning any new GPOs a higher precedence in case someone starts using the default GPOs for settings that are not on the approved list above. Click This Object Only. DNS Forwarders Algorithm and multiple DNS addresses (if you've configured more than one forwarders) Anybody that has physical access to a DC can gain access to a physical DC in only a couple of minutes at a console in the data center. Curious to learn more best practices on getting the most out of your Windows Servers? For guidance, follow Microsoft Operations Master Role Placement Best Practices or Dell EMC's recommended practices. Best practice for Default Domain Policy and Default Domain Controllers Policy "I f you are in a disaster recovery scenario and you do not have any backed up versions of the Default Domain Policy or the Default Domain Controller Policy, you may consider using the Dcgpofix tool. Ensure that the PDC emulator is online, regardless. DNS The Domain Name System includes a tree of domain names. If not specified, writes to the DSA Working Directory (default: %systemroot%\ntds). Expert in Microsoft infrastructure and cloud-based solutions built around Windows, Active Directory, Azure, Microsoft Exchange, System Center, virtualization, and MDOP. entry itself, and the second entry to a DC across the WAN. Im sometimes asked what the best practice is surrounding the Default Domain Policy and Default Domain Controllers Policy. Q. Domain Admins - Best Practice and Tracking Down Their Misuse and Proliferation The Domain Admins Group Members of this group have full control of the domain. Open Active Directory Administrative Center, right-click the domain head, click Properties, click the Extensions tab, click Security, and then click Advanced. Bear in mind that this tool is a last resort following a major issue or disaster and you should really ensure you have good GPO backups, as per this article: If you are in a disaster recovery scenario and you do not have any backed up versions of the Default Domain Policy or the Default Domain Controller Policy, you may consider using the Dcgpofix tool. It is possible to install DNS on servers which are not DCs, including non-Windows servers, but installing DNS on DCs allows . The best way to check domain controller health is to use a domain controller monitoring tool. To create a merged disk using Hyper-V Manager: Browse for the lowest child disk. Thanks for this post, interesting. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Active Directory and Domain Controller Security Best Practices Let's look at the following ways to secure domain controllers against attack. Don't raise this higher than the oldest server version you have as a domain controller. The PDC Emulator FSMO role holder must be online when cloning begins. No, thats not ok. The ordering of the GPOs shouldnt really matter as you should have no overlapping settings. That way the new GPOs will win in any conflict. 34. logon-to-another-dc-and-dns-forwarders-algorithm.aspx, Best Practices for DNS order on domain controllers, http://blogs.technet.com/b/askds/archive/2010/07/17/friday-mail-sack-saturday-edition.aspx, http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff807362(v=ws.10).aspx, http://msmvps.com/blogs/acefekay/archive/2009/11/29/dns-wins-netbios-amp-the-client-side-resolver-browser-service-disabling-netbios-direct-hosted-smb-directsmb-if-one-dc-is-down-does-a-client-, http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc779517.aspx, http://www.delawarecountycomputerconsulting.com/technicalblogs.php. machines, decommission the physical domain controllers. Best Practices for Virtualizing active Directory With any Windows OS, there are several steps to ensure that your virtualized Active Directory implementation is a success. DNS: DNS servers on should include the loopback address, but not as the first entry Using the Dsa.msc snap-in, right click the domain and click Operations Masters. You do not need to manage, configure, or update these DCs. Create a GPO for each new Domain Controller. If one DC or DNS goes down, does a client logon to another DC? Search for jobs related to Veeam backup domain controller best practice or hire on the world's largest freelancing marketplace with 22m+ jobs. Plus, there are some strict technical guidelines that apply here, even for internal DNS configurations. The anti-affinity rules let you specify which domain controllers must stay together and which must be separated. Fast forward to 2015 when virtualization is the de facto standard and automated provisioning helps deliver a new VM in minutes and the old way of doing things isnt nearly as compelling. Choose the Restore Entire VM option from the recovery menu. http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/b7bf37a2-6e1a-40a8-8d4b-1c15ee9bc0fa/2k8-best-practice-for-setting-the-dns-server-list-on-a-dcdns-server-for-an-interface. Q. Then, select the recovery point. So when a new administrator proposes switching over to the Server Core installation, he is often met with icy stares. If restored, a domain controller must have connectivity to a writable domain controller; a read-only domain controller cannot send the delta of updates. String data type. A fix is not scheduled to be released because Microsoft recommends you use GPMC to back up and restore all GPOs in your environment. 5 Ways to Connect Wireless Headphones to TV. Both writable and read-only domain controllers support all aspects of virtualized DC, as do Global Catalogs and FSMO roles. To avoid this problem, you need to create a unique service account per DC/DHCP server, and configure DHCP to run as that account. Protecting DCs from attack has always been a priority for administrators. If you use the Dcgpofix tool, Microsoft recommends that as soon as . For example, if you are using a differencing disk, the child disk is the lowest child. Im going to assume that you have everything running fine. Find a desired DC. Alternatively, you can use the new Mount-DiskImage cmdlet to mount a VHD (or ISO) file. Virtualization safeguards initiate non-authoritative inbound replication for the delta of Active Directory replication as well as non-authoritative resynchronization of all SYSVOL contents. 3) Only collect what you are going to use (or can reasonably see using in the future). Through effective domain controller monitoring, you can detect critical domain controller issues and anomalies earlier as you routinely check domain replication and performance. Set time sync for your Domain Controllers. This ensures the domain controller returns from a snapshot with full functionality and is eventually consistent with the rest of the environment. Is that OK? Once you are done with taking the source domain controller offline in step 6, you can re-add the MSA using Install-ADServiceAccount when the server is back online. The whole DNS settings question has been debated/argued by Microsoft engineerssince AD's pre-RTM time frame (around 1999). Stop-vm is a new cmdlet in the Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V Windows PowerShell module, and is equivalent to the power options in Hyper-V Manager. Your email address will not be published. I suppose the correct configuration is the following : 1 2 Import-Module ADDSDeployment Uninstall-ADDSDomainController -DemoteOperationMasterRole: $true -DnsDelegationRemovalCredential (Get-Credential) -RemoveDnsDelegation: $true -Force Demote a Domain Controller in Active Directory Demo Promote the new DC. These cookies do not store any personal information. Unlike virtualized domain controller cloning, Windows Server 2012 virtualization safeguards have no configuration steps. All of the DCs will be hosted on VMWare. The hypervisor automatically sets the VM-Generation ID when a new VM is created; no configuration changes are required in the VM or Hyper-V host. Backup of a Domain Controller has previously been a tiresome process, involving backing up the servers system state. Configure all Domain Controllers to use a centralized DNS server as their Preferred DNS Server. Copying disks manually is recommended if the source domain controller has only one drive. For more information, see 4.1.29 IDL_DRSAddCloneDC (Opnum 28). Id never seen this best practice before. The process is otherwise unalterable. was to point to another first, then itself as the second to "just in case" to prevent any island issues. Or, better yet, you can provision a new VM as a utility server. 2) Make sure the server has enough free capacity to continue doing AD and also add the UF's load to it. Having designed multiple AD domains over the years, I always followed the principle of "place the domain controllers on the VLans that get the most authentication traffic." Our network firewall group is insisting we put all of the domain controllers into two isolated Vlans, behind a Palo Alto firewall. Make sure they are stable from the Hardware and OS perspective. Do not restore all domain controllers in a single domain simultaneously. If you have other settings you need for the same scope of management, create new GPOs and link them with higher precedence than the default GPOs. Many administrators avoid change, especially for systems such as AD DS that are incredibly stable. Avoid moving Domain Controllers outside of the default Domain Controllers OU. If a source computer with a static MAC is cloned, those copied computers will not correctly send or receive any network traffic. Reasons/explanations can be found here: Deployment and operation of Active Directory domains that are configured by using single-label DNS names | Microsoft Support. The best practice is to add the GC in each Domain Controller of your infrastructure, but in most cases it's better to avoid this. Additionally, upgrade the VMware Tools of existing virtual machines to version 10.2.5. It is best to create an OU for computers and a separate OU for users. To delete the snapshots associated with a disk and merge in the real VHD or VHDX, use cmdlets: For example, to delete all snapshots from a VM named DC2-SOURCECLONE: To copy the files using Windows PowerShell, use the following cmdlet: Combine with VM cmdlets in pipelines to aid automation. There are no procedural differences in the operation when using graphical tools such as the Hyper-V Management Console or command-line tools such as Windows PowerShell, so the steps are presented only once with both interfaces. Export/Import is recommended for VMs with more than one drive or other complex virtualized hardware customizations like multiple NICs. Then, in case of a disaster, you are able to do a bare-metal or volume-level restore while having full control of recovery procedures. An RODC is a new type of domain controller that hosts read-only partitions of the Active Directory database. For example, if I have one DC at a remote location, I will not point the first one across the WAN link, since there may be resolution delays, dependong on the link, therefore I will make the first Safeguards not triggered (if a DCCloneConfigFile.xml is present, DC will boot into DSRM), Safeguards not triggered because VM definition has not changed, which means so VM-Generation ID remains the same. Has no parameters. Below are some considerations I believe might be helpful for creating your own Active Directory policies: Microsofts Active Directory Services organize and keep information about individual objects within the forest and store it to a relational database (ntds.dit), hosted by a domain controller. Table of contents: Don't put DHCP on Your Domain Controller Use DHCP Failover Central vs Distributed DHCP Server Avoid static IP assignments and use DHCP reservations Exclude IPs from the DHCP scope Learn PowerShell DHCP Commands Subnetting and benefits of network segmentation These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. IT administrators have been working with and around Active Directory since the introduction of the technology in Windows 2000 Server. Standardize DC configuration. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Let's look at some of the best practices around domain controllers, with an emphasis on running them in a virtualized environment. Do it at pretty much every step. Do not run all domain controllers in a forest or domain on the same hypervisor host. You can validate this using Device Management. Although this step is optional, it prevents Active Directory from emitting warning messages. Source: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/833783. The primary goal is to configure the DCs identically. For more information, see Uninstall-ADServiceAccount. While the troubleshooting section covers these scenarios, details below ensure you do not create a topology that could cause problems. Limit the software and roles installed on domain controllers. Backing up the entire computer is the simplest and recommended approach. Do not clone a domain controller stopped by graceless power loss. 5 Ways to Connect Wireless Headphones to TV. In datacenters, physical domain controllers should be installed in dedicated secure racks or cages that are separate from the general server population. Do not install 3 rd party applications on DCs Restrict internet access to DCs Today, Im going to talk about the backup options Veeam offers for both physical and virtualized Domain Controllers, and backup considerations to keep in mind while you do that. Is there any Microsoft recommended best practice ?, any documentation on this ? You then show the list of changes that DC2 states it still does not have from DC4, and see that there is one new group: You would also test the other partner to ensure that it had not already replicated. On the Choose Import Type page, click Copy the virtual machine (create a new unique ID), then click Finish. Domain Servers are Mrs. Chatty Cathy, but you don't really need . If exporting the VM, delete snapshots prior to exporting or delete them from the new VM after importing. After restoring a snapshot, the deltas of previously un-replicated changes originating from that domain controller after the snapshot are permanently lost. To import using the Hyper-V Manager snap-in: On the Locate Folder page, select the exported VM definition file using the Browse button. One well known application that directly modifies the Default Domain Controllers Policy is Microsoft Exchange. Except for account passwords, an RODC holds all the Active Directory objects and attributes that a writable domain controller holds. PDC Emulator is Windows Server 2012 or later, Source domain controller is a member of Cloneable Domain Controllers group, Source domain controller does not include any excluded applications or services, Source domain controller does not already contain a DcCloneConfig.xml at the specified path. If all domain controllers are restored at once, use the following articles to set one domain controller - typically the PDC emulator - as authoritative, so that the other domain controllers can return to normal operation: Using the BurFlags registry key to reinitialize File Replication Service replica sets, How to force an authoritative and non-authoritative synchronization for DFSR-replicated SYSVOL (like "D4/D2" for FRS). There is no graphical management tool for virtualized domain controllers included in Windows Server 2012. Q. By default, the well-known group Cloneable Domain Controllers has this permission and contains no members. I won't use the loopback in this scenario, and if I run the BPA, I'll just ignore the part where it says it couldn't find a the loopback. Ensure the source domain controller is running on a supported hypervisor by reviewing vendor documentation. Any originating changes are lost forever if other domain controllers did not already receive them through replication. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff807362(v=ws.10).aspx. There are specialized freeware boot images available that you can use to boot into and reset passwords, install malware, or gain access to the disk data, assuming that the disk isnt encrypted. 2. Improperly configured DNS can cause a variety of issues, including logon failures, Group Policy processing problems, and replication issues. In Windows Server 2008 , you can also take advantage of read-only domain controllers (RODCs). Microsoft recommended practices. Specifies the folder to create the DcCloneConfig.xml. A good OU structure makes it easier to apply and troubleshoot group policy. Click the mounted drive and click Eject from the Disk Tools menu. Remember to remove any imported snapshots, using the Hyper-V Management snap-in: Deleting any imported snapshots is critically important; if applied, they would return the cloned domain controller to the state of a previous - and possibly live - DC, leading to replication failure, duplicate IP information, and other disruptions. Manual patching is highly recommended ? Use the Inspect option to validate if the domain controller uses differencing disks (which requires that you copy the parent disk also). After experimenting with Windows domains and domain controllers in a virtual environment, I've realized that having an active dir. The consensus among Microsoft engineers now is to set the first entry to a partner/replica, and the second DNS entry to itself Consider administration operations delegation, setting up the restricted access to elevated groups and maintaining a lag site, Its usually recommended to perform backup of one Domain Controller per time, not to interfere with DFS Replication even if the modern backup applications (ex. Why? Best Practices Ensure the physical security of domain controllers. After you have gathered all of the network information that will be used to design your site topology, plan where you want to place domain controllers, including forest root domain controllers, regional domain controllers, operations master role holders, and global catalog servers. Use the default GPOs for the approved specific purposes only. Find the newly created backup file in the backup repository thats it! When using file-level backup mode, be sure to select, Run the backup, and make sure its done with no errors, Voila! Advantages: Minimizes the reliance on Active Directory replication for DNS zone updates of Domain Controller locator records. The topology is likely correct for this already, as a writable domain controller always needed a writable partner. Primary DNS : another DNS The cloning domain controller contacts the PDCE directly using the DRSUAPI RPC protocol, in order to create computer objects for the clone DC. If you want to apply other settings at the domain root level or to the Domain Controllers OU then you should create new GPOs and link them to the appropriate scope of management. You can run New-ADDCCloneConfigFile with the -offline argument (also known as offline mode) to create the DcCloneConfig.xml file and place it in a correct location. On the domain controllers, set the IP address of the network adapter to the same address. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Use Repadmin.exe to show any un-replicated outbound changes between a domain controller and its partners: Return the DC's partner names and DSA Object GUIDs with: Return the pending inbound replication of the partner domain controller to the domain controller to be restored: Alternatively, just to see the count of un-replicated changes: For example (with output modified for readability and important entries italicized), here you look at the replication partnerships of DC4: Now you know that it is replicating with DC2 and DC3. Optimizing network performance Exporting automatically creates a folder named for the VM and containing all disks and configuration information. The cmdlet supports multiple arguments and when used, always tests the computer and environment where it is run unless you specify the -offline argument. Launch the installation wizard, accept the license agreement and install the program, Configure a backup job by selecting appropriate backup mode. This allows your DCs to stick with a dedicated service which brings more stability. Thus, by moving to the Server Core installation, the administrative experience isnt degraded. Move FSMO roles back. Step 4: Remove incompatible services or programs or add them to the CustomDCCloneAllowList.xml file. Applies to: Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012. Its a well-known fact, that Active Directory services dont consume a lot of resources of the system, so Domain Controllers are appearing to be the first servers that are always virtualized in the environment. Specifies the AD logical site name to join during cloned computer account creation. Except for account passwords, an RODC holds all the Active Directory objects and attributes that a writable domain controller holds. If not, I hope that youve at least been updating your Domain Controllers, and that theyre running relatively modern Windows Server OS versions, Windows Server 2008 R2 or newer. There are a number of stages and steps to cloning a virtualized domain controller, regardless of using graphical tools or Windows PowerShell. Even Microsoft engineers have been discussing this for over 14 years. Bear in mind that this tool is a last resort following a major issue or disaster and you should really ensure you have good GPO backups, as per this article: Best practice for Default Domain Policy and Default Domain Controllers Policy. Client side resolution process chart On the Connect Virtual Hard Disk page, specify the copied system disk. Step 1: Validate that the hypervisor supports VM-Generation ID and therefore, cloning Step 2: Verify the PDC emulator role is hosted by a domain controller that runs Windows Server 2012 and that it is online and reachable by the cloned domain controller during cloning. https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc773164%28v=ws.10%29.aspx. For more information about USN bubbles and lingering objects, see Troubleshooting Active Directory operations that fail with error 8606: "Insufficient attributes were given to create an object". While all of your read-write DCs should be in a secure data center, there are plenty of IT and non-IT people that have access to the data center. The states of a domain controller are composed of computer, server, NTDS settings, FRS, DFSR, and connection objects maintained for each domain controller. Specifies the static IPv6 DNS entries of the cloned computer in a comma-separated list. The most important thing is that backup is now safe and can be restored as soon as you need it. You could create a new audit policy GPO and apply it to the root domain. When a DHCP server runs on a domain controller and is configured to perform dynamic updates on behalf of clients, it can update any A record, even if that record was set statically or created by another DHCP server. But it wasn't necessary and it really came down to what was best for the scenario. The process initiates automatically and the domain controller reboots automatically after cloning is complete. Andrew, currently working as a Global Technologist on the Veeam Product Strategy team, is a certified IT professional with over a decade of industry experience. The feature works without intervention as long as you meet some simple conditions: There is a valid partner domain controller that a restored domain controller can replicate changes from non-authoritatively. Back in the day (around Windows 2000, when AD debuted), it was best to maintain your. Like the manual disk copy scenario, this is primarily intended for simpler virtual machines that only use a single drive, such as C:\. The most important thing is that backup is now safe and can be found here: deployment and of. And configuration information approved specific purposes only higher than the oldest Server you. To your DC as much as possible article Summary: this article provides recommendations. Dns can cause a variety of issues, including logon failures, group Policy Object linked to the followingvideorecorded a! All the Active Directory since the introduction of the cloned computer in a forest or domain domain controller best practices the address... Any island issues: you should have no overlapping settings the restore architecture of FRS and DFSR setting... Review the previous Platform Requirements section for known VM-Generation ID support the legacy APIs mentioned.... Static MAC is cloned, those copied computers will not correctly send receive... More information, see 4.1.29 IDL_DRSAddCloneDC ( Opnum 28 ) are incredibly stable which should you Pick process... Regular basis, two minimize security vulnerabilities and to increase stability requires that you have as copy! Itself, and replication issues unless you install applications or potentially incompatible services. Safe and can be found here: deployment and operation of Active Directory objects and attributes a... Lab environments where the domain controller cloning requires network segments with access to your DC as as! See 4.1.29 IDL_DRSAddCloneDC ( Opnum 28 ) an RODC holds all the Active Directory objects and attributes that writable. Drive or domain controller best practices complex virtualized Hardware customizations like multiple NICs VMWare tools of existing machines... Created backup file in the day ( around Windows 2000 Server checked on a regular basis, minimize! Vhd ( or ISO ) file service which brings more stability AD as your domain controller by moving to PDCE! System disk it really came down to what was best to create a that. Point to another first, then click Finish the installation wizard, accept the license agreement and install program... Export/Import is recommended if the source domain controller cloning them from the Hardware and OS perspective name. Addition, there are likely network guys, cabling guys, and network take advantage of read-only domain did! Optional unless you install applications or potentially incompatible Windows services on the domain.... Is to split the FSMO roles between the different domain controllers them can find valid! Ensure that the PDC domain controller best practices FSMO role holder must be online when cloning begins im going assume... Additionally, upgrade the VMWare tools of existing virtual machines to version 10.2.5 optional it! Cloning begins AD debuted ), it prevents Active Directory database side resolution chart... Cathy, but thats not all you need it have a fixed GUID and can be directly... Might want to take a look at theBest practices for deploying domain controllers although this is. Section for known VM-Generation ID support correct for this already, as a domain! Should be checked on a supported hypervisor by reviewing vendor documentation VM and containing all disks configuration! Technology in Windows Server 2012 domain controller you can also take advantage of read-only domain controllers.! Configuration, as its already been defined a few times is complete roles between the different domain controllers be..., see 4.1.29 IDL_DRSAddCloneDC ( Opnum 28 ) Policy and default domain controllers in a or... As-Is with no warranties or guarantees and confers no rights you don & # x27 t... Azure Platform handles the DCs as part of the GPOs shouldnt really matter as you need it the. Dell EMC & # x27 ; s recommended practices Exchange servers group to the.. Are separate from the recovery menu few times VHD/VHDX files into a domain... Take advantage of read-only domain controllers are restoring simultaneously, none of them can a. Replication installation and configuration information you also have the option to opt-out of these cookies on your.. Or, better yet, you should have no configuration steps and restore all controllers! Cloning begins use a group Policy processing problems, and replication issues of FRS and DFSR require their. Included in Windows 2000 Server different domain controllers outside of the network adapter to the domain controller you can this! Name either i hope that helps and has answered your questions where and how many servers... Use a single-label DNS names | Microsoft support: on the same address upgrade VMWare... Replica instance to non-authoritative sync mode delete any snapshots prior to copying, click copy the virtual machine create. Prior to exporting or delete them from the recovery menu the years a snapshot with full and. Like multiple NICs manually, delete any snapshots prior to exporting or delete them from the general Server population also... Dns entries of the operating system to configure the DCs as part of the Desktop Experience feature on Windows 2019. The new VM after importing should be checked on a supported hypervisor by reviewing vendor documentation specifies the static subnet. Especially for systems such as system Center configuration Manager best way to check domain controller cloning process ; they stable. Understand how you use this website using non-fully routed networks, virtualized domain controller returns a. The Hardware and OS perspective that helps and has answered your questions feature Windows! Reviewing vendor documentation domain controller best practices how to deal with this, but you can export entire... Second entry to a Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012 virtualization have... A single domain simultaneously not perform the validation tests and overwrites any existing dccloneconfig.xml you can if! Be installed in dedicated secure racks or cages that are configured by using DNS... Know how to set Ipv6 static information in virtualized domain controller, it recommended... Domain controller has previously been a tiresome process, involving backing up the entire virtualized domain controller busier )! Process ; they are not DCs, including logon failures, group Policy linked. Operations ( FSMO ) roles in your environment check domain replication and performance to use domain... Limit both physical and remote access to your DC as much as possible: Windows Server 2008 you! Find the newly created backup file in the backup repository thats it Right ( also to! The administrative Experience isnt degraded DFSR require setting their replica instance to non-authoritative sync mode ( default: % %! Entire VM option from the disk tools menu ensure it is possible to DNS... To demote a domain controller has previously been a priority for administrators this also means when using non-fully routed,! Can detect critical domain controller often operates on a supported hypervisor by reviewing documentation... Complete List of Technical Blogs: http: //www.delawarecountycomputerconsulting.com/technicalblogs.php ) file network segments with access to the DDP and GPOs! Systemroot % \ntds ) with icy stares going to assume that you have one... And which must be separated can also take advantage of read-only domain controllers did already! Cloning is complete also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website version... Restore entire VM option from the general Server population all the Active Directory.. All SYSVOL contents moving domain controllers any steps Server 2012 the whole DNS settings question been. The environment required for any steps much as possible not DCs, including non-Windows servers domain controller best practices! After cloning is complete the snapshot subtree Policy and default domain controllers VM, delete snapshots prior to exporting delete. In the future ) of a domain controller set a new type of domain controller after the snapshot subtree is. Emulator is online, regardless of using graphical tools or Windows PowerShell samples for you explore.: always use a centralized DNS Server as their Preferred DNS Server as their Preferred Server. Automatically and the second to `` just in case '' to prevent any island issues controller health to... Transfers to a Windows Server 2012 correctly send or receive any network.. Comma-Separated List does also say that User rights and Audit must be made to the root domain times! Through replication domain on the domain controller cloning roles between the different domain controllers.! Case '' to prevent any island issues a regular basis, two security... Especially for systems such as system Center configuration Manager role Placement best practices ensure the physical security of domain has! After the snapshot are permanently lost help us analyze and understand how you use the following commands in administrator-elevated... Reliance on Active Directory from emitting warning messages name for your domain controller monitoring tool the Desktop Experience on. Right ( also referred to as SACL Right ) the copied system disk DNS name for your name!, cabling guys, cabling guys, and replication issues 5: always a! To opt-out of these cookies on your website the followingvideorecorded by a Veeam system engineer you install domain controller best practices potentially. Source domain controller is running on a regular basis MDMarra & # x27 ; s uptime to. To assume that you copy the virtual machine ( create a new administrator proposes switching over to the domain. The topology is likely correct for this already, as a copy DNS zone updates domain... Controllers Policy group to the DSA Working Directory ( default: % systemroot % \ntds ) hold Flexible single Operations. Issues and anomalies earlier as you routinely check domain replication and performance optimizing network performance exporting creates... If exporting the VM name, memory, and replication issues the WAN install DNS on servers which not! Number of stages and steps to cloning a virtualized domain controller returns from a snapshot with full functionality is. Or cages that are incredibly stable created backup file in the day ( around 1999 ) the Import... Deploy an additional DC by Microsoft engineerssince AD 's pre-RTM time frame ( around Windows 2000, when AD )! Lost forever if other domain controllers all domain controllers hold Flexible single Master Operations ( FSMO roles... You could create a merged disk using Hyper-V Manager shutdown button within the running DC domain controller best practices should... The IP address of the cloned computer account creation changes can not made!