Demoting a Samba AD DC

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Introduction

If you keep information about a domain controller (DC) that was permanently removed from the Active Directory (AD) in the directory, clients can encounter timeouts during log ins or other operations. To permanently remove a Samba DC from the AD, you must demote it.



Demote a Working Domain Controller

If you domain controller (DC) is still accessible:

  • Log in to the DC you want to demote.
  • Demote the DC:
# samba-tool domain demote -Uadministrator
Using DC1.samdom.example.com as partner server for the demotion
Password for [SAMDOM\administrator]:
Desactivating inbound replication
Asking partner server DC1.samdom.example.com to synchronize from us
Changing userControl and container
Demote successfull
  • Shut down the "samba" service.



Demote an Offline Domain Controller

Only follow this procedure if the domain controller (DC) to demote is no longer accessible; for example, due to a hardware failure:

  • Log in to a remaining DC.
  • Verify that you are running Samba 4.4 or a later version:
# samba --version
Version 4.5.0
Samba version prior 4.4.0 do not support demoting a remote DC. Before you continue, upgrade your existing DCs to 4.4.0 or later.
  • To demote a remote DC, for example "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

WARNING: Never reconnect a DC to the network, that was demoted using this way. It can cause data loss!



Verifying the Demotion

The following steps are to verify and clean up remaining directory information after a domain controller demotion. It does not replace the procedure for the demote itself!

  • Log on as Domain Administrator to a Windows computer having the Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) installed. See [[Installing_RSAT|Installing RSAT].
  • Start "Active Directory Users and Computers", navigate to the "Domain Controllers" container and verify that the demoted DC was removed.
ADUC Domain Controllers.png
  • Start "Active Directory Sites and Services" and check that the demoted DC is not listed in any site.
ADSS Domain Controllers.png
  • Start the "DNS" MMC console and check in all zones, that no entry refering to the demoted DC or it's IP has been left.
DNS Domain Controllers.png