Share via

Seize the AD LDS Schema Master Role

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

The schema master is responsible for performing updates to the Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) schema. Each configuration set has only one schema master. All write operations to the AD LDS schema can be performed only when connected to the AD LDS instance that holds the schema master role within its configuration set. Those schema updates are replicated from the schema master to all other instances in the configuration set.

Membership in the AD LDS Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure. Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at Local and Domain Default Groups (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83477).

To seize the schema master role

  1. To open the command prompt, click Start, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.

  2. At the command prompt, type the following and then press ENTER:

    dsmgmt

  3. At the dsmgmt: command prompt, type the following and then press ENTER:

    roles

  4. At the fsmo maintenance: command prompt, type the following and then press ENTER:

    connections

  5. At the server connections: command prompt, type the following and then press ENTER:

    connect to server computername:portnumber

    where computername:portnumber is the computer name and communications port number of the AD LDS instance that you want to use as the new schema master.

  6. At the server connections: command prompt, type the following and then press ENTER:

    quit

  7. At the fsmo maintenance: command prompt, type the following and then press ENTER:

    seize schema master

Warning

Do not seize the schema master role if you can transfer it instead. Seizing the schema master role is a drastic step that should be considered only if the current operations master will never be available again.

Note

For help with dsmgmt, type ? at a dsmgmt prompt.