Determine the database size and location offline

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

When determining the database size and location offline, the size is reported in megabytes (MB). Use this method if the domain controller is already started in Directory Services Restore Mode.

Important

Be sure to use the same method to check file sizes when you compare them. The size is reported differently, depending on whether the domain controller is online or offline. For information about determining database size online, see Determine the database size and location online.

You can also use the Search command on the Start menu to locate the database file (Ntds.dit) or the edb*.log file for the location of the database and log files, respectively.

If you have set garbage collection logging to report free disk space, then event ID 1646 in the Active Directory service log also reports the size of the database file: “Total allocated hard disk space (megabytes):”

Alternatively, you can determine the size of the database file by listing the contents of the directory that contains the files.

Administrative Credentials

To perform this procedure, you must provide the Directory Services Restore Mode password for the local administrator account.

To determine the database size and location offline

  1. With the domain controller in Directory Services Restore Mode, open a command prompt, type ntdsutil and then press ENTER

  2. At the ntdsutil: prompt, type files and then press ENTER.

  3. At the file maintenance: prompt, type info and press ENTER.

  4. At the file maintenance: prompt, type quit and then press ENTER. Type quit and then press ENTER again to quit Ntdsutil.exe.