What is mixed mode and native mode in Active Directory?
Mixed Mode: Mixed mode allows Windows NT and 2000 backup Domain Controllers to co-exist in a domain. The domain mode setting can be changed to Windows 2000 native mode when all Windows NT Domain Controllers are removed from a domain.
How do you know if a domain is in mixed mode?
To programmatically detect the operation mode of a Windows 2000 domain, read the ntMixedDomain property of the domainDNS object for that domain. A value of zero (0) means that the domain is in native mode. A value of one (1) indicates that the domain is in mixed mode.
What are the two roles of a domain controller?
A domain controller (DC) is a server computer that responds to security authentication requests within a computer network domain. It authenticates users, stores user account information and enforces security policy for a domain.
What is the difference between primary domain controller and secondary domain controller?
The Primary Domain Controller maintains the master copy of the directory database and validates users. A Backup Domain Controller contains a copy of the directory database and can validate users. If the PDC fails then a BDC can be promoted to a PDC.
What roles are needed for a domain controller?
The 5 FSMO roles are:
- Schema Master – one per forest.
- Domain Naming Master – one per forest.
- Relative ID (RID) Master – one per domain.
- Primary Domain Controller (PDC) Emulator – one per domain.
- Infrastructure Master – one per domain.
Should I have 2 domain controllers?
4 Answers. Yes, you should have two Domain Controllers. If your one Domain Controller goes down users will be unable to log in to the domain, access resources in the domain, won’t have access to their Exchange mailbox, etc.
Can you have two primary domain controllers?
The primary reason for having multiple domain controllers is for fault tolerance. They will replicate the Active Directory information between them and can provide services if the other is unavailable. Having multiple DC’s is a best practice standard.
Can a Windows NT 4.0 domain be used in mixed mode?
If nTMixedDomain is equal to 0 then the domain is in native mode (which basically means that all domain controllers must be running Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003). If nTMixedDomain is equal to 1 then the domain is in mixed mode, which means that Windows NT 4.0 computers can function as domain controllers.
What’s the difference between mixed and native domains?
Mixed domain: A Windows 2000 or 2003 domain that has the ability to have Windows NT 4.0 domain controllers. Interim domain: Same as a Windows 2000 mixed domain but no Windows 2000 domain controllers can be added to the domain. Native domain: A Windows 2000 domain native does not have the ability to run Windows NT 4.0 domain controllers.
Can you use NT Domain Controllers in native mode?
As I mentioned earlier, native mode doesn’t support NT domain controllers; you can only have Win2K domain controllers. However, you can have NT workstations and member servers in native mode. Major advantages of native mode include support for universal groups, nested groups, and transitive trust relationships.
When to switch from mixed mode to native mode?
Most organizations will want to switch to native mode sooner rather than later. If you’re not switching to native mode because you suspect that you’ll have to add NT BDCs to your domain, don’t worry. You can always add a new domain to your Win2K network, which installs in mixed mode by default. Then you can add NT BDCs to that domain.