{"id":2060,"date":"2017-03-29T18:43:49","date_gmt":"2017-03-29T18:43:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/microsoftgeek.com\/?p=2060"},"modified":"2018-09-06T23:18:18","modified_gmt":"2018-09-06T23:18:18","slug":"how-to-add-a-backup-domain-controller-to-an-existing-active-directory-domain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microsoftgeek.com\/?p=2060","title":{"rendered":"How to add a Backup Domain Controller to an existing Active Directory Domain"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>An <strong>Active Directory Domain<\/strong> with a unique <strong>Primary Domain Controller (PDC)<\/strong> is something that you should not rely on. A hardware failure can make your day a really bad one and, for this reason, <strong>Microsoft<\/strong> give us the possibility to add a (or more) <strong>Backup Domain Controller (BDC)<\/strong> to our domain.<\/p>\n<p>The configuration is quite simple on <strong>Windows Server 2012 \/\/ R2<\/strong>, a much appreciated gift from Redmond.<br \/>\n<span id=\"more-1701\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>First of all, add the <strong>Active Directory Domain Services<\/strong> role to our brand new server (that must be in the same local network \u2013 or VPN \u2013 of the Primary Domain Controller but outside the domain):<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1703\" src=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-01.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-01.png 800w, http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-01-300x213.png 300w, http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-01-680x482.png 680w\" alt=\"How to add a Backup Domain Controller to an existing Active Directory Domain\" width=\"800\" height=\"567\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1704\" src=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-02.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-02.png 800w, http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-02-300x213.png 300w, http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-02-680x482.png 680w\" alt=\"How to add a Backup Domain Controller to an existing Active Directory Domain\" width=\"800\" height=\"567\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Now that <strong>Active Directory Domain Services<\/strong> are installed, open the network preferences and add the <strong>Primary Domain Controller<\/strong> as the <em>primary DNS server<\/em> (in our example <em>192.168.2.103<\/em> while the BDC IP is <em>192.168.2.104<\/em>). Then restart the machine:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1705\" src=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-03.png\" alt=\"How to add a Backup Domain Controller to an existing Active Directory Domain\" width=\"414\" height=\"462\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s time to configure the new <em>Backup Domain Controller<\/em>. Click <em>Promote this server to a domain controller:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1706\" src=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-04.png\" alt=\"How to add a Backup Domain Controller to an existing Active Directory Domain\" width=\"1022\" height=\"726\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Check <em>Add a domain controller to an existing domain<\/em> then click <em>Select:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1707\" src=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-05.png\" alt=\"How to add a Backup Domain Controller to an existing Active Directory Domain\" width=\"775\" height=\"567\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Specify the credentials of the domain administrator:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1708\" src=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-06.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 439px) 100vw, 439px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-06.png 439w, http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-06-300x249.png 300w\" alt=\"How to add a Backup Domain Controller to an existing Active Directory Domain\" width=\"439\" height=\"365\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Select the domain:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-07.png\" alt=\"How to add a &lt;strong&gt;Backup Domain Controller (BDC)&lt;\/strong&gt; to an existing Active Directory Domain\u201d width=\u201d400\u2033 height=\u201d302\u2033 class=\u201daligncenter size-full wp-image-1709\u2033 \/&gt;&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Click &lt;em&gt;Next:&lt;\/em&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1710\" src=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-08.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 775px) 100vw, 775px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-08.png 775w, http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-08-300x219.png 300w, http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-08-680x497.png 680w\" alt=\"How to add a Backup Domain Controller to an existing Active Directory Domain\" width=\"775\" height=\"567\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Specify a <em>Directory Services Restore Mode password<\/em> then click <em>Next:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1711\" src=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-09.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 775px) 100vw, 775px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-09.png 775w, http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-09-300x219.png 300w, http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-09-680x497.png 680w\" alt=\"How to add a Backup Domain Controller to an existing Active Directory Domain\" width=\"775\" height=\"567\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Click <em>Next:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1712\" src=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-10.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 775px) 100vw, 775px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-10.png 775w, http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-10-300x219.png 300w, http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-10-680x497.png 680w\" alt=\"How to add a Backup Domain Controller to an existing Active Directory Domain\" width=\"775\" height=\"567\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Select the <em>Primary Domain Controller<\/em> from the dropdown menu then click <em>Next:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1713\" src=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-11.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 775px) 100vw, 775px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-11.png 775w, http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-11-300x219.png 300w, http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-11-680x497.png 680w\" alt=\"How to add a Backup Domain Controller to an existing Active Directory Domain\" width=\"775\" height=\"567\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Default paths are fine. Click <em>Next:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1714\" src=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-12.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 775px) 100vw, 775px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-12.png 775w, http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-12-300x219.png 300w, http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-12-680x497.png 680w\" alt=\"How to add a Backup Domain Controller to an existing Active Directory Domain\" width=\"775\" height=\"567\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Click <em>Next:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1715\" src=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-13.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 775px) 100vw, 775px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-13.png 775w, http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-13-300x219.png 300w, http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-13-680x497.png 680w\" alt=\"How to add a Backup Domain Controller to an existing Active Directory Domain\" width=\"775\" height=\"567\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>Windows Server<\/em> will check if it\u2019s all ok. Then click <em>Install:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1716\" src=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-14.png\" alt=\"How to add a Backup Domain Controller to an existing Active Directory Domain\" width=\"775\" height=\"567\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After a few minutes the <em>Backup Domain Controller<\/em> will be ready. Just restart the machine and remember to add the <em>Backup Domain Controller IP<\/em> as a <em>secondary DNS server<\/em> in your client machines:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1718\" src=\"http:\/\/thesolving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/How-to-add-a-Backup-Domain-Controller-to-an-existing-Active-Directory-Domain-15.png\" alt=\"How to add a Backup Domain Controller to an existing Active Directory Domain 15\" width=\"414\" height=\"462\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An Active Directory Domain with a unique Primary Domain Controller (PDC) is something that you should not rely on. A hardware failure can make your day a really bad one and, for this reason, Microsoft give us the possibility to add a (or more) Backup Domain Controller (BDC) to our domain. The configuration is quite [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2060","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general-2008","category-microsoft-windows-server-2012"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/microsoftgeek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2060","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/microsoftgeek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/microsoftgeek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microsoftgeek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microsoftgeek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2060"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/microsoftgeek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2060\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2061,"href":"https:\/\/microsoftgeek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2060\/revisions\/2061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/microsoftgeek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microsoftgeek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microsoftgeek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}