Hi, If I drop our VPN and rename the domain then I need to understand what will happen to active directory and I dont want to lose anything on either AD >> According to the description, I understand that the AD replication is based on VPN. You want to drop down the VPN, split the domain, then it will change to different two domains. then you want to keep the database of Active Directory. If there is any misunderstanding, please feel free to let me know. At first, please try to understand AD, domain correctly. For details: Active Directory http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb742424.aspx What Are Domains and Forests? http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc759073(WS.10).aspx Then, please try to understand How Active Directory Replication Topology Works. How Active Directory Replication Topology Works http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc755994(WS.10).aspx#w2k3tr_repto_how_uhrf At the present situation, I'd like to suggest to demote one of the DC and then create the other domain. If you want to keep the AD database with both two DCs, I'd like to confirm why do you want to split the domain? For demote DC: Demote a domain controller http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc740017(WS.10).aspx Hope this helps! Best Regards Elytis Cheng Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that Elytis Cheng TechNet Community Support

If I split a domain which has a DC and Exch replicated either side of the VPN how do I ensure we don't lose the AD set up at either site?TS GURU

I am not sure I understand what setup are you talking about. If you are talking about data consistency then make each DC in each site a GC so that in case of a vpn failure services would work normally.MCTS - Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

We have two DC's and two Exchange Servers. One of each at two sites. So DC1 and Exch1 in Ireland and DC2 and Exch2 in the UK. I need to split this domain. I have done most of the exchange work and migrated users to another exchange server and store. I plan on DC promo-ing and removing exchange and renaming etc. There are no trusts set up but active directory is replicated. If I drop our VPN and rename the domain then I need to understand what will happen to active directory and I dont want to lose anything on either AD TS GURU

Hi, If I drop our VPN and rename the domain then I need to understand what will happen to active directory and I dont want to lose anything on either AD >> According to the description, I understand that the AD replication is based on VPN. You want to drop down the VPN, split the domain, then it will change to different two domains. then you want to keep the database of Active Directory. If there is any misunderstanding, please feel free to let me know. At first, please try to understand AD, domain correctly. For details: Active Directory http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb742424.aspx What Are Domains and Forests? http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc759073(WS.10).aspx Then, please try to understand How Active Directory Replication Topology Works. How Active Directory Replication Topology Works http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc755994(WS.10).aspx#w2k3tr_repto_how_uhrf At the present situation, I'd like to suggest to demote one of the DC and then create the other domain. If you want to keep the AD database with both two DCs, I'd like to confirm why do you want to split the domain? For demote DC: Demote a domain controller http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc740017(WS.10).aspx Hope this helps! Best Regards Elytis Cheng Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that Elytis Cheng TechNet Community Support