I have written this post because the following question has been asked a few times:

  • "How do I know that the forest updates have replicated to all DCs in the forest"
  • "How do I know that the domain updates have replicated to all DCs in the domain"

 

The procedure here assumes the forest and domain is being updated to introduce W2K3 DCs. This procedure can be used  for all updates. The only thing to know is what is being updated?

 

The updates done by ADPREP /FORESTPREP and ADPREP /DOMAINPREP are listed in:

 

To be sure the forest updates have replicated to all DCs in the forest check if the following object is available on all DCs in the forest:

  • CN=Windows2003Update,CN=ForestUpdates,CN=Configuration,DC=<Forest Root Domain>

This object will be created If all operations are successfully added to the forest.

So using REPADMIN check if this object exists on all DCs in the AD forest. The command line for this is:

  • REPADMIN /SHOWOBJMETA * "CN=Windows2003Update,CN=ForestUpdates,CN=Configuration,DC=<Forest Root Domain>" > CHECK_FOREST_UPDATE.TXT

"*" means ALL DCs in the AD forest

 

Open CHECK_FOREST_UPDATE.TXT with NOTEPAD and search for the words (without the quotes) "Directory object not found". For any DC that has those words it means not all updates (or even none) have replicated yet to that DC.

 

To be sure the domain updates have replicated to all DCs in the domain check if the following object is available on all DCs in the domain:

  • CN=Windows2003Update,CN=DomainUpdates,CN=System,DC=<Domain>

This object will be created If all operations are successfully added to the domain.

So using REPADMIN check if this object exists on all DCs in the AD domain. The command line for this is:

  • REPADMIN /SHOWOBJMETA XXX*.<DOMAIN> "
  • CN=Windows2003Update,CN=DomainUpdates,CN=System,DC=<Domain>
  • " > CHECK_DOMAIN_UPDATE.TXT

"XXX*.<DOMAIN>" means ALL DCs in the AD domain "<DOMAIN>" where the DC name starts with XXX. Why is this used and not "*.<DOMAIN>". The latter also enumerates eventual DCs in child AD domains of "<DOMAIN>"

 

Open CHECK_DOMAIN_UPDATE.TXT with NOTEPAD and search for the words (without the quotes) "Directory object not found". For any DC that has those words it means not all updates (or even none) have replicated yet to that DC.

 

Jorge

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* This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights!
* Always test before implementing!
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