Enable strict replication consistency

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

The setting for replication consistency is stored in the registry in the Strict Replication Consistency entry in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NTDS\Parameters.

Values for this entry are as follows:

  • Value: 1 (0 to disable)

  • Default: 1 (enabled) in a new Windows Server 2003 forest; otherwise 0.

  • Data type: REG_DWORD

On domain controllers running Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1), you do not have to edit the registry directly to enable strict replication consistency. It is best to avoid editing the registry directly if possible. You can use a Repadmin command that enables strict replication consistency on one or all domain controllers in the forest. This command is available only in the version of Repadmin that is included with Windows Support Tools in Windows Server 2003 SP1. This command can be applied only on domain controllers running Windows Server 2003 with SP1.

Administrative credentials

  • To complete this procedure on a single domain controller, you must be a member of the Domain Admins group in the domain.

  • To complete this procedure on all domain controllers, you must be a member of the Enterprise Admins group in the forest.

Requirements:

  • Operating system: Windows Server 2003 with SP1

    Note

    To enable strict replication consistency on a domain controller that is not running Windows Server 2003 with SP1, use a registry editor to set the value in the Strict Replication Consistency entry to 1.

    Warning

    It is recommended that you do not directly edit the registry unless there is no other alternative. Modifications to the registry are not validated by the registry editor or by Windows before they are applied, and as a result, incorrect values can be stored. This can result in unrecoverable errors in the system. When possible, use Group Policy or other Windows tools, such as Microsoft Management Console (MMC), to accomplish tasks rather than editing the registry directly. If you must edit the registry, use extreme caution.

To enable strict replication consistency

  1. Open a command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    repadmin /regkey DC_LIST **{+|-}**key

    Term Definition

    DC_LIST

    The name of a single domain controller. (* applies the change to all domain controllers in the forest.) For the domain controller name, you can use the Domain Name System (DNS) name, the distinguished name of the domain controller computer object, or the distinguished name of the domain controller server object.

    {+|-}key

    + to enable and - to disable, and key is strict. For example, +strict enables strict replication consistency; -strict disables it.

  2. Repeat step 1 for every domain controller on which you want to enable strict replication consistency.

Note

For more naming options and information about the syntax of the DC_LIST parameter, at the command prompt type repadmin /listhelp.