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= Introduction =
= Introduction =


In certain situations, it is necessary that you permanently remove a domain controller (DC) from Active Directory (AD). While for a regular domain member,you only delete the machine account entry, you have to demote a DC, to remove it from AD.
Whenever a Domain Controller should be removed from your domain, regardless out of which reason, you have to demote it. This HowTo describes different scenarios to demote a Domain Controller.


If a DC is not demoted correctly, your AD can get unstable. For example:
* replication failures can occur.
* the remaining DCs can slow down due to time outs and failed replication attempts.
* log ins on domain members can fail or take longer.








== Server information used in this HowTo ==


= Demoting an Online Domain Controller =
Inside this HowTo, we will be using the following configuration/settings:


If the domain controller (DC) to remove is still working correctly:
Installation directory: /usr/local/samba/
DC to demote: DC2
Different DC remaining in the network: DC1
DNS Domain Name/Realm: samdom.example.com
NT4 Domain Name: samdom


* Log in locally to the DC to demote.


* Verify that the DC does not own any flexible single master operations (FSMO) roles. See [[Transferring_and_Seizing_FSMO_Roles#Displaying_the_Current_FSMO_Role_Owners|Displaying the Current FSMO Role Owners]].


: In case that the DC owns one or more FSMO roles, transfer them to a different DC. See [[Transferring_and_Seizing_FSMO_Roles#Transferring_an_FSMO_Role|Transferring an FSMO Role]].


* Optionally, display the objectGUID of the DC. For example, for the <code>DC2</code> host:


# ldbsearch -H /usr/local/samba/private/sam.ldb '(invocationId=*)' --cross-ncs objectguid | grep -A1 DC2
= Demote a still working Domain Controller =
dn: CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC2,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
objectGUID: c14a774f-9732-4ec2-b9fa-2156c95c4e48


: If you want to verify that all DNS entries were deleted ater you demoted the DC, you need to know the host name, IP address, and the objectGUID of the DC.
Follow this section, if your DC is accessable and working.

* Log into the DC you want to demote.

* Verify that the DC is not the last one remaining in the domain!

* Make sure, that this DC does not contain any [[Flexible_Single-Master_Operations_(FSMO)_roles|FSMO role]]:

# samba-tool fsmo show
InfrastructureMasterRole owner: CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC1,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
RidAllocationMasterRole owner: CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC1,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
PdcEmulationMasterRole owner: CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC1,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
DomainNamingMasterRole owner: CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC1,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
SchemaMasterRole owner: CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC1,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com

: If it still contains one or more [[Flexible_Single-Master_Operations_(FSMO)_roles#Transfering_a_FSMO_role|FSMO roles, transfer]] them to a different DC.


* Demote the DC:
* Demote the DC:
Line 45: Line 35:
Using DC1.samdom.example.com as partner server for the demotion
Using DC1.samdom.example.com as partner server for the demotion
Password for [SAMDOM\administrator]:
Password for [SAMDOM\administrator]:
Desactivating inbound replication
Deactivating inbound replication
Asking partner server DC1.samdom.example.com to synchronize from us
Asking partner server DC1.samdom.example.com to synchronize from us
Changing userControl and container
Changing userControl and container
Removing Sysvol reference: CN=DC2,CN=Enterprise,CN=Microsoft System Volumes,CN=System,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Demote successfull
Removing Sysvol reference: CN=DC2,CN=samdom.example.com,CN=Microsoft System Volumes,CN=System,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Removing Sysvol reference: CN=DC2,CN=Domain System Volumes (SYSVOL share),CN=File Replication Service,CN=System,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Removing Sysvol reference: CN=DC2,CN=Topology,CN=Domain System Volume,CN=DFSR-GlobalSettings,CN=System,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Demote successful

* Stop the <code>samba</code> service.

* If this DC ran a DNS service for the Active Directory (AD) zones:
:* stop the DNS service, if you used the <code>BIND9_DLZ</code> DNS back end.
:* verify that domain members and DCs do no longer use this host to resolve the AD DNS zones.





= Demoting an Offline Domain Controller =

In certain situations, such as hardware failures, it is necessary to remove a domain controller (DC) from the domain, that is no longer accessible. In this case, demote the DC using a remaining working Samba DC.

{{Imbox
| type = important
| text = Only run this procedure if the DC to demote is no longer connected to the AD and you cannot demote it as described in [[#Demoting_an_Online_Domain_Controller|Demoting an Online Domain Controller]]. This ensures that all changes, like password changes, are replicated onto another DC. Otherwise such changes would be lost. You can get a list of changes by using [[Samba-tool ldapcmp]].
}}

To remotely demote an offline DC:

* Log in to a working Samba DC in the Active Directory (AD) forest.

* Verify that Samba 4.4 or later is installed:

# samba --version

: You cannot demote an offline remote DC from a DC that runs Samba 4.4 or earlier. Update to Samba 4.4.0 or later before you continue. For details, see [[Updating_Samba|Updating Samba]].

* Verify that the remote DC to demote does not own any flexible single master operations (FSMO) role. See [[Transferring_and_Seizing_FSMO_Roles#Displaying_the_Current_FSMO_Role_Owners|Displaying the Current FSMO Role Owners]].

:* In case that the DC to demote owns one or more FSMO roles, seize them to the local DC. See [[Transferring_and_Seizing_FSMO_Roles#Transferring_and_Seizing_FSMO_Roles#Seizing_a_FSMO_Role|Seizing an FSMO Role]].

* Verify that the DC to demote is turned off.

* Optionally, display the objectGUID of the DC. For example, for the <code>DC2</code> host:


# ldbsearch -H /usr/local/samba/private/sam.ldb '(invocationId=*)' --cross-ncs objectguid | grep -A1 DC2
* Shutdown Samba
dn: CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC2,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
objectGUID: c14a774f-9732-4ec2-b9fa-2156c95c4e48


: If you want to verify that all DNS entries were deleted ater you demoted the DC, you need to know the host name, IP address, and the objectGUID of the DC.
* [[#Verifying_that_nothing_was_left|Verify that nothing was left]].


= Demote a DC that isn't accessable any more=
* Demote the remote DC. For example, to demote <code>DC2</code>:


# samba-tool domain demote --remove-other-dead-server=DC2
Follow this section, if your DC is not accessable any more, e. g. by hardware failure and it surely will never come back into the network.
Removing nTDSConnection: CN=04baf417-eb41-4f31-a5f1-c739f0e92b1b,CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC1,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Removing nTDSDSA: CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC2,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com (and any children)
Removing RID Set: CN=RID Set,CN=DC2,OU=Domain Controllers,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Removing computer account: CN=DC2,OU=Domain Controllers,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com (and any child objects)
Removing Samba-specific DNS service account: CN=dns-DC2,CN=Users,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
updating samdom.example.com keeping 3 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_kerberos._tcp.Default-First-Site-Name._sites,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_ldap._tcp.Default-First-Site-Name._sites,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_gc._tcp.Default-First-Site-Name._sites,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_kerberos._tcp,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_kerberos._udp,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_kpasswd._tcp,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_kpasswd._udp,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_ldap._tcp,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_gc._tcp,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_ldap._tcp.4d5258b9-0cd7-4d78-bdd7-99ebe6b19751.domains,DC=_msdcs.samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_kerberos._tcp.Default-First-Site-Name._sites.dc,DC=_msdcs.samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_ldap._tcp.Default-First-Site-Name._sites.dc,DC=_msdcs.samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_ldap._tcp.Default-First-Site-Name._sites.gc,DC=_msdcs.samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=c14a774f-9732-4ec2-b9fa-2156c95c4e48,DC=_msdcs.samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 0 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_kerberos._tcp.dc,DC=_msdcs.samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_ldap._tcp.dc,DC=_msdcs.samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_ldap._tcp.gc,DC=_msdcs.samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
Removing Sysvol reference: CN=DC2,CN=Enterprise,CN=Microsoft System Volumes,CN=System,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Removing Sysvol reference: CN=DC2,CN=samdom.example.com,CN=Microsoft System Volumes,CN=System,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Removing Sysvol reference: CN=DC2,CN=Domain System Volumes (SYSVOL share),CN=File Replication Service,CN=System,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Removing Sysvol reference: CN=DC2,CN=Topology,CN=Domain System Volume,CN=DFSR-GlobalSettings,CN=System,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com


:{{Imbox
samba-tool currently does not support demote a foreign DC. That's why currently the only way to demote a lost DC is using the Windows tools. '''Sadly demoting e. g. through deleting the DC in ADUC, currently fails. See [https://bugzilla.samba.org/show_bug.cgi?id=10595 Bug report #10595].'''
| type = warning
| text = You must not reconnect a DC to the network, that was demoted remotely. Your AD can get inconsistent.
}}


* In case that the demoted DC ran a DNS service for the Active Directory (AD) zones, verify that domain members and DCs do no longer use this host to resolve the AD DNS zones.
'''There are suspicion that samba DC with the metadate of the DC that isn't accessible ''would eat up memory and later trigger oom-killer.'''''


= Verifying the Demotion =
This information was correct Until 4.1.12, and the same problem might kill the 2nd and 3rd DC if you have.


To manually verify that the domain controller (DC) was successfully demoted:
Some people say that they can remove using the script below, but it was fully '''not tested'''.
Please use at your own risk.
[http://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/d31f091f-2642-4ede-9f97-0e1cc4d577f3#content]


{{Imbox
= Verifying that nothing was left =
| type = important
| text = The steps described in this section, do not replace the official demote procedures described in the previous sections. The steps in this section are only to verify and to manually remove remaining entries, if the official demote process failed.
}}


* Log in to a Windows domain member using an account that is member of the <code>Domain Admins</code> group, such as the AD domain Administrator account.
The following steps are done on a Windows computer having [[Installing_RSAT_on_Windows_for_AD_Management|RSAT installed]].


* Install the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT). For details, see [[Installing RSAT]].
'''Warning: The following are just cleanup steps, if something was left after a demote! It's not a replacement for the demote process itself!'''


* Open „Active Directory Users and Computers“
* Open the <code>Active Directory Users and Computers</code> application.


:* Navigate to the <code>Domain Controllers</code> entry and verify that the demoted DC was removed. For example:
:* Go to the container „Domain Controllers“ and verify that the demoted DC was removed. If not, remove the account manually. This would also cleanup metadata. '''DC removal via ADUC is currently broken. See [https://bugzilla.samba.org/show_bug.cgi?id=10595 Bug report #10595].'''
:[[Image:ADUC_Domain_Controllers.png]]
:* If the entry is still listed, you can manually remove it:
::* Right-click to the DC entry and select <code>Delete</code>
::* Click <code>Yes</code> to confirm.
::* Select <code>Delete this Domain Controller anyway. It is permanently offline and can no longer be removed using the removal wizard.</code> and click <code>OK</code>.
::* If the DC is a global catalog server, click <code>Yes</code> to confirm.


* Open the <code>Active Directory Sites and Services</code> application and verify that the demoted DC is no longer listed in any Active Directory (AD) site entry. For example:
: [[Image:ADUC_Domain_Controllers.png]]
:[[Image:ADSS_Domain_Controllers.png]]
:* If the entry is still listed, you can manually remove it:
::* Right-click to the DC entry and select <code>Delete</code>
::* Click <code>Yes</code> to confirm.


* Open the <code>DNS</code> application and verify that the DC's host name, IP address, and objectGUID is no longer used in any DNS entry in any AD DNS zone. For example:
* Open „Active Directory Sites and Services“
:[[Image:DNS_Domain_Controllers.png]]
:* If entries are still listed, you can manually remove them:
::* Right-click to the entry and select <code>Delete</code>
::* Click <code>Yes</code> to confirm.


:* Check that the demoted DC doesn't exist any more in any site. If an entry is still there, remove it manually.


: [[Image:ADSS_Domain_Controllers.png]]


* Open the „DNS“ console


:* <u>Check in all zones</u>, that no entry about the demoted DC is still existing.


----
: [[Image:DNS_Domain_Controllers.png]]
[[Category:Active Directory]]

Revision as of 03:57, 3 November 2017

Introduction

In certain situations, it is necessary that you permanently remove a domain controller (DC) from Active Directory (AD). While for a regular domain member,you only delete the machine account entry, you have to demote a DC, to remove it from AD.

If a DC is not demoted correctly, your AD can get unstable. For example:

  • replication failures can occur.
  • the remaining DCs can slow down due to time outs and failed replication attempts.
  • log ins on domain members can fail or take longer.



Demoting an Online Domain Controller

If the domain controller (DC) to remove is still working correctly:

  • Log in locally to the DC to demote.
In case that the DC owns one or more FSMO roles, transfer them to a different DC. See Transferring an FSMO Role.
  • Optionally, display the objectGUID of the DC. For example, for the DC2 host:
# ldbsearch -H /usr/local/samba/private/sam.ldb '(invocationId=*)' --cross-ncs objectguid | grep -A1 DC2
dn: CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC2,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
objectGUID: c14a774f-9732-4ec2-b9fa-2156c95c4e48
If you want to verify that all DNS entries were deleted ater you demoted the DC, you need to know the host name, IP address, and the objectGUID of the DC.
  • Demote the DC:
# samba-tool domain demote -Uadministrator
Using DC1.samdom.example.com as partner server for the demotion
Password for [SAMDOM\administrator]:
Deactivating inbound replication
Asking partner server DC1.samdom.example.com to synchronize from us
Changing userControl and container
Removing Sysvol reference: CN=DC2,CN=Enterprise,CN=Microsoft System Volumes,CN=System,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Removing Sysvol reference: CN=DC2,CN=samdom.example.com,CN=Microsoft System Volumes,CN=System,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Removing Sysvol reference: CN=DC2,CN=Domain System Volumes (SYSVOL share),CN=File Replication Service,CN=System,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Removing Sysvol reference: CN=DC2,CN=Topology,CN=Domain System Volume,CN=DFSR-GlobalSettings,CN=System,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Demote successful
  • Stop the samba service.
  • If this DC ran a DNS service for the Active Directory (AD) zones:
  • stop the DNS service, if you used the BIND9_DLZ DNS back end.
  • verify that domain members and DCs do no longer use this host to resolve the AD DNS zones.



Demoting an Offline Domain Controller

In certain situations, such as hardware failures, it is necessary to remove a domain controller (DC) from the domain, that is no longer accessible. In this case, demote the DC using a remaining working Samba DC.

To remotely demote an offline DC:

  • Log in to a working Samba DC in the Active Directory (AD) forest.
  • Verify that Samba 4.4 or later is installed:
# samba --version
You cannot demote an offline remote DC from a DC that runs Samba 4.4 or earlier. Update to Samba 4.4.0 or later before you continue. For details, see Updating Samba.
  • In case that the DC to demote owns one or more FSMO roles, seize them to the local DC. See Seizing an FSMO Role.
  • Verify that the DC to demote is turned off.
  • Optionally, display the objectGUID of the DC. For example, for the DC2 host:
# ldbsearch -H /usr/local/samba/private/sam.ldb '(invocationId=*)' --cross-ncs objectguid | grep -A1 DC2
dn: CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC2,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
objectGUID: c14a774f-9732-4ec2-b9fa-2156c95c4e48
If you want to verify that all DNS entries were deleted ater you demoted the DC, you need to know the host name, IP address, and the objectGUID of the DC.
  • Demote the remote DC. For example, to demote DC2:
# samba-tool domain demote --remove-other-dead-server=DC2
Removing nTDSConnection: CN=04baf417-eb41-4f31-a5f1-c739f0e92b1b,CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC1,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Removing nTDSDSA: CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC2,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com (and any children)
Removing RID Set: CN=RID Set,CN=DC2,OU=Domain Controllers,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Removing computer account: CN=DC2,OU=Domain Controllers,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com (and any child objects)
Removing Samba-specific DNS service account: CN=dns-DC2,CN=Users,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
updating samdom.example.com keeping 3 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_kerberos._tcp.Default-First-Site-Name._sites,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_ldap._tcp.Default-First-Site-Name._sites,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_gc._tcp.Default-First-Site-Name._sites,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_kerberos._tcp,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_kerberos._udp,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_kpasswd._tcp,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_kpasswd._udp,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_ldap._tcp,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_gc._tcp,DC=samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_ldap._tcp.4d5258b9-0cd7-4d78-bdd7-99ebe6b19751.domains,DC=_msdcs.samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_kerberos._tcp.Default-First-Site-Name._sites.dc,DC=_msdcs.samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_ldap._tcp.Default-First-Site-Name._sites.dc,DC=_msdcs.samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_ldap._tcp.Default-First-Site-Name._sites.gc,DC=_msdcs.samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=c14a774f-9732-4ec2-b9fa-2156c95c4e48,DC=_msdcs.samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 0 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_kerberos._tcp.dc,DC=_msdcs.samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_ldap._tcp.dc,DC=_msdcs.samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
updating DC=_ldap._tcp.gc,DC=_msdcs.samdom.example.com,CN=MicrosoftDNS,DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com keeping 1 values, removing 1 values
Removing Sysvol reference: CN=DC2,CN=Enterprise,CN=Microsoft System Volumes,CN=System,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Removing Sysvol reference: CN=DC2,CN=samdom.example.com,CN=Microsoft System Volumes,CN=System,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Removing Sysvol reference: CN=DC2,CN=Domain System Volumes (SYSVOL share),CN=File Replication Service,CN=System,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
Removing Sysvol reference: CN=DC2,CN=Topology,CN=Domain System Volume,CN=DFSR-GlobalSettings,CN=System,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com
  • In case that the demoted DC ran a DNS service for the Active Directory (AD) zones, verify that domain members and DCs do no longer use this host to resolve the AD DNS zones.

Verifying the Demotion

To manually verify that the domain controller (DC) was successfully demoted:

  • Log in to a Windows domain member using an account that is member of the Domain Admins group, such as the AD domain Administrator account.
  • Install the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT). For details, see Installing RSAT.
  • Open the Active Directory Users and Computers application.
  • Navigate to the Domain Controllers entry and verify that the demoted DC was removed. For example:
ADUC Domain Controllers.png
  • If the entry is still listed, you can manually remove it:
  • Right-click to the DC entry and select Delete
  • Click Yes to confirm.
  • Select Delete this Domain Controller anyway. It is permanently offline and can no longer be removed using the removal wizard. and click OK.
  • If the DC is a global catalog server, click Yes to confirm.
  • Open the Active Directory Sites and Services application and verify that the demoted DC is no longer listed in any Active Directory (AD) site entry. For example:
ADSS Domain Controllers.png
  • If the entry is still listed, you can manually remove it:
  • Right-click to the DC entry and select Delete
  • Click Yes to confirm.
  • Open the DNS application and verify that the DC's host name, IP address, and objectGUID is no longer used in any DNS entry in any AD DNS zone. For example:
DNS Domain Controllers.png
  • If entries are still listed, you can manually remove them:
  • Right-click to the entry and select Delete
  • Click Yes to confirm.