Microsoft KB Archive/193219

= Member Server Role Cannot Be Changed to Domain Controller =

Article ID: 193219

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q193219



SUMMARY
It is important to plan your domain carefully. You cannot change a computer's role from member server to domain controller without reinstalling Windows NT Server.

What Is the Difference Between a Domain Controller and a Server?
A member server:
 * Does not receive a copy of the domain account database, but does have access to it if it is a member of the domain.
 * Maintains its own local user account database.
 * Does not process domain logons.
 * Has the same built-in user groups as a Windows NT Workstation (including Power Users).
 * Can be configured as a member of a domain or workgroup.



MORE INFORMATION
You may have to make a determination about the role of a server in the domain. Use one of the following methods to determine the computer's role.

Method 1

 * 1) Click Start, and then click Programs.
 * 2) Click Command Prompt.
 * 3) At the command prompt, type net accounts, and then press ENTER.

A list of information appears, and the last line of the information indicates the computer role.

Sample of the output:

  c:\>NET ACCOUNTS Force user logoff how long after time expires?:      Never Minimum password age (days):                         0 Maximum password age (days):                         42 Minimum password length:                             0 Length of password history maintained:               None Lockout threshold:                                   Never Lockout duration (minutes):                          30 Lockout observation window (minutes):                30 Computer role:                                       PRIMARY The command completed successfully.

Method 2

 * 1) Right-click Network Neighborhood.
 * 2) Click Properties.
 * 3) Click the Identification tab.
 * 4) Click Change.

If you can change the computer to a workgroup, the server is a member server. You cannot do this if the server is a domain controller.

Method 3

 * 1) Click Start, click Programs, and then click Administrative Tools.
 * 2) Click Server Manager.
 * 3) View the role of the computer in Server Manager.

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

126436 Q&A: The Role of a Windows NT Server in a Domain

Additional query words: Member Server Role upgrade promote

Keywords: kbinfo KB193219

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