Configure the Site Topology

  • Article

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

When you install Active Directory on the first domain controller in the forest, a site object named Default-First-Site-Name is created in the Sites container in Active Directory. The server object for the first domain controller is created in this site.

If no additional sites have been defined in Active Directory, the server object for all subsequent domain controllers will be added to the Default-First-Site-Name site object. However, if additional sites are defined in Active Directory and the IP address of the installation computer matches an existing subnet in a defined site, the domain controller is added to that site.

Note

  • Domain controllers are only added to sites based on their IP address at the time of installation. After installation, if the IP address, subnet, or site information of a domain controller changes, an administrator must manually move the domain controller to the new site.

To simplify the placement of the domain controller into the appropriate site, configure your site topology before you install Active Directory on additional domain controllers. After all sites are created, a server object for each additional domain controller is created in the appropriate site according to its IP address.

Configure your Active Directory site topology as specified in your site topology design. For information about creating a site topology design, see "Designing the Site Topology" in this book. For more information about configuring your site topology, see "Configure Site Settings" and "Configure Replication Between Sites" in Help and Support Center for Windows Server 2003.