Planning for Active Directory Forest Recovery
Applies To: Windows Server 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012
This guide contains best-practice recommendations for recovering an Active Directory® forest if forest-wide failure renders all domain controllers (DCs) in the forest incapable of functioning normally. The steps it contains serve as a template for your forest recovery plan, which you can customize for your particular environment. These steps apply to DCs that run Microsoft® Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2003 operating systems.
Note
Procedures that are unique for DCs that run Windows Server 2003 are consolidated in Appendix D.
In this guide
Appendix C: Recovering a Single Domain within a Multidomain Forest
Appendix D: Forest Recovery with Windows Server 2003 Domain Controllers
Publication and revision history
The following table summarizes the revision history for this guide, including its original publication on Microsoft TechNet.
Date |
Revision |
April 2013 |
Updated to reflect new features in Windows Server 2012. |
May 2009 |
Updated to reflect new features in Windows Server 2008. |
October 2006 |
Updated for Windows Server 2003 and published on TechNet |
June 2002 |
Original publication on Microsoft Download Center |